January 1984
An independent magazine published by ECC Publications
Issue No 22
PRAISE THE SPECTRUM
Get the
most from
your
joystick
New
educati
slot
Sinclair
expands
distribu
Machine
code
made
simple
ntacting
outside
e meet
top
oftware
writers
"1
THE CHALLENGE >
IS WITHIN YOUR . GRASP
With ihe vast range of games now available lor home
computers each holds a diiieren! challenge New the
Kempston Compelflion-Pro Joystick win come to your aid and
improve your playing capabilities Your movements will
become quicker, your linger poised aver the 3 ire bullon at the
ready, your scores will be out ot this world. Playng will be
easier
U you're serious about the challenge your computer
presents then you shouldn't be without the Kempston
Competition- Pro Joystick
ompatjble wilh any Atan 4fJO'ftOO. V
>mmodore 64
JOYSTICK HEmpsron
INTERFACE
Joystick Compatible Software fOI lhe ZX Spectrum
Aquaplane ■; 4BK ) £ti 95
Aquarius £595
Armaaoddori
Wro Blaster £495.
A&cArac (4«C> E550
BHrtdADev
BOfV*M £595
CtXikjD £3 50
ConJMfZort* £595
Ccmd^rKM G«wn < 48K ) £595
Ccoiue GvWtfto i£95
GbMKN £fi Q5
Crazy GcHcW: iz-ji
Cjbef Rc* £S%
EH £596
Frog KuTi ^ /■
Gaitt^ Abductor $790
Galactic Trooper £599
GaiaxianE £495
Gmsher £495-
Sulpman <-i j l
Harlequin <L<.
JWPaic E550
(Ct"ft3(4«ffl £590
KraKyKwa £595
U«MRrJ«tnv3r,<4aK? £550
Marnt: Minw [ASK) £5 95
Moasmon £595
A!f somes I'itf untesf c«iirn#»w iffcrfed
Ali the above games simply load and play with, the Kempdon
range od Joysucte However some games avaUabie were
produced before Joysticks were available for the ZX Spectrum With
Ihe ajct ol Kempston inversion Tapes these games can tow he
played with Ihe Kempston joysticks
Meteoradi
£5Vij
Missile Detejvce
£5.95
Niahl Flile
Cwiun.
£S v
£&o5
£550
Pmi
PUnchv C**BJC)
Reset* .;48K)
S590
> l.::!|::i
Skip Dab
SJipperySkd
£550
i^»cripede
Spectra Smasn and BreakOjl
Bptol f4fiK".
£550
SpooJcymcn
£595
£095
Time Gale i JWKi
£595
£590
• ram Am
£550
Vicoenl L'rJvettw
£595
Mi Wimpy (48K)
£590
Wizard WanxumeK )
£495
Lipaap JflK i
22oom^4fiKj
£550
£550
JD Maze of ."iaki
£595
JD Marisler Ma?*>
JD Pander
■3D Spacer Wct*»
£595
3C>Tunnej(l«M«r;
£595
Now Available separately the Kempston Jo
Interlace lor the 2X Spectrum ONLY £1 4.99
stick
Allows the use ol any Atari/Comjriodore type Joystick with
the popular ZX Spectrum computer A must lor any Spectrum
owner who wants ihe power ol a joystick added la ihe power
of the Speclnim Simply plugs inlo !he edge connector at Ihe
back OJ Ihe Spectrum No modilicatons necessary Only £ 1 4.W
Exclusive otter to mail order customers - a FREE
Conversion Tape oi your choice (value £4 96) ti you order
either the Sped rum Joystick or Spectrum interlace
Limned oner so order NOW'
II you have the hcffdware youH wanl ihe software . . .
Conversion Tape ]
- Converts Horace
Goes Skiing Hungry
Homes Right
Simulation (Sinclair':'
Arcadia, Penetrate r
LATEST RELEASE FROM KEMPSOFT
MISSION MARS S^SSHHStt ^ cr 4f^ lm f
plane! ana transport Ihern Ihroug/h the
■WK Spectrum Only £A 95 rriejeor belt lo saieiy lt. ?he mother ship
Conversion Tape n
-Convert Orbiter
Escape. Tanx.
Centipede, Spectial
Invaders. Cruising on
Broadway. Frenzy
ALL £495 each
Mad items are available uom
W H Smith. Boots. Spectrum Computer
Centres and good computing shops or dared from
HEmpsron
■ ™ MIC RO 1 E L ECTRO N ICS LTD
Unit 30 Singer Way Wabum Road Industrial Esuata
Kempston, Bedford. MK42 7AF Tel [(034)856633
Telex «260?a KEMPM1 G
Conversion Tape Qt
- Convert Ah
DiddumE Jumping
Jack. Mokir Maui
Androids. Horace
And The Spaders
Space Raiders
Winged Avenger.
Muncher
incorporating Spectrum User
Managing editor
Nigel Clark
Deputy editor
Nicole Segre
Consultant editor
Mike Johnston
Managing production editor
Harold Mayes MBE
Software editnr
John C-itbert
Program reviewer
Rebecca Ferguson
Illustrator/ designer
Brian King
Group advertisement manager
John Ross
Sales executive
Annette Burrows
Production assistant
Dezi Epaminofiiiou
Editorial assistant
Colette McDermoU
Managing director
Terry Cartwnghr
Chairman
Richard Hcase
Sinclair User is published monthly
I t C Publications Ltd.
ABC
Telephone
All departments
01-359 3525
If you would like to contribute 10
any of the Sinclair User group or
publication*, please send prui>r.irr.v
articles or ideas for hardware
projects io :
Sinclair L'ser and Programs,
ECC Publications,
19-6- 200 Balls Pond,
London Ml 4AQ
Programs should be on cassette and
articles shoulJ be typed. Vt r e cannot
undertake to return them unless a
stamped-addressed envelope is
included.
We pav £10 for The copyright ol
each program published and £50
per I hOOO words For each article
used.
© Copyright 1 984
Sinclair User
ISSN No 0262-5458
Printed and typeset by
Cradley Print PLC
Warley,
West Midlands
Distributed by
Spotlight Magazine Distribution Ltd,
] Benwell Road,
Holloway,
London N7
01-607 6411
Cover Photograph:
Peter Dawney
page 17 page S3
5 SI >f CLAIRVOYANCE At the start of 1984. we look to the year ahead.
11 SINCLAIR USER CLUB More special offers Tor Club members.
17 NEWS Sinclair expansion plan* overset u challenge for The BUC contract, the Cambridge
Award winners, and more.
19 SINCLAIR SIMON Further adventures of our hero.
25 LETTERS The latest selection from our postbag.
30 HARDWARE WORLD Digital-to-analogue converters and a communications cradle are
among the add-ons reviewed this month.
39 SOFTWARE SCENE Si* page;, of software reviews..
50 JOYSTICK SOFTWARE John Gilbert tries using a joystick with some well-known
games.
53 RS232 Stephen Adams explains the ins and outs of (he serial interface,
60 HIT SQUAD Tn the first of a new series on lop programmers* Nicole Segre
talks to Charles Da vies.
MACHINE CODE Graphics are discussed in John Kerrigan's new series on machine
code programming.
71 FORTH John Crilben continues his articles on the popular programming language.
79 PROGRAM PRINTOUT Sixteen pages of the best program listings.
102 USER OF THE MONTH Flo Karker talks Hi a Meihodisi minister jhoui his computer-
planned time-table.
1 10 EDUCATION Theodora Wood considers some of the educational software
which is available,
1 18 SOUND EFFECTS Robert Shipley suggests some simple machine code routines for
better suundtr
123 COMPETITIONS We animunce ihc winner of our Microdrive competition and tiller
another chance for a trip to Cologne.
129 BOOKS John Gilbert reviews some recent publications.
134 HELPLINE AnJiuw Hew son provides the answers to your problems.
143 STARTER PACK Our regular feature for begirtfttf*.
153 MIND GAMES Qucntin Heath assesses the impact of the Microdrive on adventure
games.
161 SOFTWARE DIRECTORY A comprehensive list of cassettes, complete with ihe
Gilbert factor.
NEXT MONTH
John Gilbert reviews the latest programming
packs. We also bring you pictures of the
Cambridge Award ceremony, plus the usual
news, reviews and program listings.
SINC1JVJR USER January 1984
A COMPUTER BREAK DOWN.
WITH A MICROCARE WARRANTY
some of the small print with a microcare warrants >fc
YOU may send your computer in for repair as often as necessary
during the warranty period
Your computer receives expert attention and care.
After repair it is thoroughly tested and returned as promptly as
possible
MicroCare's liability extends to the repair of electronic faults, includes
all parts, or replacement of the computer if found to be irreparable.
you re purchasing an extra 12 months peace of mind . at very little
cost. Just think: no need to scrap your computer if it goes wrong after
the end of guarantee .no hassle with manufacturers no problem
with finding someone capable of professional repairs.
With a microcare WARRANTY you can have your equipment up and
running in days — not weeks! And there's no limit on the number of
repairs during the warranty period'
so if vou own a popular computer, there's a microcare warranty
than right for your machine Why not huy a year s peace of mind now?
The sooner you do r the cheaper it could be
write today, or phone your Access/ Barclavcard number, There s no
need to have a breakdown if your computer breaks down, With
microcare you il always have professional back-up!
micro Care
Atari 400
Atari BOO
9BC8
Commodore Vic 20
commodore C64
Oregon
Acorn Electron
one
Com** 35
lynx
Sinu*
Jupiter Ace
TeitasTiggfla
SCHEME A
COlt Of 17
months
w<ji t jnty it
than 90
davsOW
ci a 90
£9 50
£1390
£14 90
£14 90
E14 30
E14 90
Eld 90
£1290
E14.90
£12.90
£12 90
£1256
C ' 2 K ]
£12.90
£12 M
SCHEME B
CGSt Of 12
warranty
Ore than 90
days old
7 9 Thane wonts, Thane villas, London hi 7ph Tel: cn 609 7919
■facturwr's
guarantee has
expired
Pieasesend me
senai numoer '5
. warranty /warranties for scneme :'.
for computer ,'imopa.'4
£13 90
£21 90
£21.90
£21.90
£21.90
£31,90
£ 2 '• 90
£18.90
£21 90
Eit.90
E1B.90
E1B 90
E18 90
fie 90
£16.90
125 .90
£19.90
£29 90
£2990
E29 9U
£29 90
E29 90
£Z3 10
£25 90
£29 90
E25.90
£25 90
E2S 90
£25.90
£25.90
£25 90
£22. 40
E15.SQ
E25 90
£25 90
E25 90
£25 90
£25 90
£25 90
£22.50
£24.90
£22 50
E22 90
E22 90
£22.50
£22 50
£22 50
made out to Microcare.
Please MM E1, so p&p
I
I
I
I
I
■ please enaoWthe briglnarrnSnWeuyrer* wyrarTtyTft will ije returned wttft I
| your MteretCare warranty I
i enclose cfteqye for
or i would like to r>av by Access or Bardaycard
and l enter mv number and signature accordingly
Name occupation
Address
Signature Date
Please note mat if vou are applying For warranty under scheme A ore.
Sinclairvoyance
A more competitive market
THE NEW YEAR is traditionally a time for looking
backwards and forwards. An old year has just been
completed and has to be raked over before it can be
laid to rest. The new year is ready and waiting to be embarked
on w T ith all the excitement and trepidation the unknown
brings.
Last year was a quiet one for Sinclair users. There was no
new computer — just time for the Spectrum to enhance its
position as the most popular microcomputer in Britain,
Despite its having many critics, particularly for its poor sound
and alleged lack of durability, it topped the sales charts
consistently, with the other machines struggling to keep pace.
It seems likely that there is plenty of life left in the Spectrum.
New launches threaten to put a dent in the continued success
of the machine but none, not even the Dragon or the Oric,
which looked as if they could approach it most closely, has
lived up to sales expectations. The Elan appears to have what
it takes but, as with the rest, we shall have to wait and see how
quickly there can be machines on sale in sufficient numbers to
have any real impact.
The major hardware new r s of the year was, of course , the
launch of the Microdrive. After having to wait so long since
the first announcement it was almost bound not to live up to
all its expectations. Given the length of time people had to
build their hopes of what the mass storage device would be
able to do, it could safely be predicted that the eventual
product would not please everyone. Despite that, it is still a
worthwhile enhancement for the Spectrum, when people
cease to compare it to disc drive systems and regard it more as
a fairly inexpensive way of increasing memory and making
loading programs vastly quicker and more simple.
The most important developments last year, however, were
not about new releases but about changes in the market. The
possibility of being able to make big profits has attracted the
bigger companies such as Virgin and Thorn-EMI, with a
consequent increase in market sophistication.
Some existing software houses, like Quicksilva and Carnell,
had begun to stage software launches and presentations.
Virgin, however., hit the market with the full razzmataz of the
record industry when it set up Virgin Games, A night club
was hired with pop music blaring out and a Mrs Thatcher
imitator to attract the Press. The games and their young
programmers seemed almost incidental.
Some of the early amateurish romance has left the market
but that was essential if sales are to develop away from the
enthusiasts. Home computers, despite ihe increasing amount
of coverage in the newspapers and magazines and on tele-
vision, are still only in about 10 percent of homes in Britain
and that is the biggest national percentage in the world.
Those moves have been emphasised by the disappearance of
a number of the smaller companies. They have either ceased
trading) like Kayde, or have been taken over, like Abcrsofi
being bought by Melbourne House.
The pattern which seems as if it is being followed is that of"
the book publishing industry, with software houses being
purely publishers which contract a number of software writers
with the duplication and distribution being another two
separate functions.
Looking ahead, much of what can be expected will be the
result of what began to happen in 1983. Once the festive boom
has departed it can be expected that there will be a further
rationalisation of the companies selling Sinclair software and
hardware. It is likely that there will be a polarisation into large
and very small companies.
There will always be a place for the programmer or
hardware enthusiast who sees a gap in the market for a
specialised use to which Sinclair machines can be put. That
has already occured with programs like Beamscan for use by
architects and there are other items in varying stages of
development. Those people who wish to make variations of
games already being sold should probably do their selling
through an established publisher which has the expertise.
Anyone wanting to enter the market hoping to become a
major force must think relatively big in product range and
launch plans so that a presence can be established quickly.
This year is one which is being seen as the time when some
of the smaller computer companies will cease trading. Jupiter
Cantab, maker of the Jupiter Ace, has already ceased trading
and many people expect some others to go the same way. No
doubt there will be others who will introduce new machines to
take advantage of that elusive extra 90 percent of British
homes, not to mention the export potential. This could be the
year when the Japanese finally get it right.
The major news from Sinclair will be its move into the
business market. On the same lines as the Microdrive, the
appearance of the 'ZX-83' has been talked about a great deal.
Sir Clive has said what he considers to be its main elements —
a portable with flat-screen television and Microdrive storage
— while others have added the gloss of suggested mock-ups
and illustrations. The official word is that it can be expected in
the first half of 1984.
It is to be hoped that Sinclair Research gets its marketing
correct. Business users are far more demanding and the
market is far more competitive. The machines need to be
reliable and available, or customers will go elsewhere. Many
users have some experience of computers and know what they
want. They will not be willing to suffer delays and problems
in the same way home owners have done.
Sinclair presumably will sell on price, banking on high
volume to compensate for narrower margins. It will have to
offer much more back-up than it does at present. Other areas
of the business market have realised that and are willing to
provide what the market demands. After paying for software,
peripherals and training, the price of the basic machine is
often the least important consideration in buying a new
system. That is something Sinclair has left to others in the
past. If it wishes to make an impact on business users, it will
have to offer it itself from the beginning.
Finally, with this being 1984, with all its Orwellian conno-
tations, we can expect much detailed consideration of the
impact of computers on our lives. They are not the frighten-
ing, dangerous things they were once regarded but there are
still difficulties in learning how to deal with changes they
will bring. Perhaps fears of the complete 1984 society will
help to provide some answers.
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
5
I
IWJ
T,
ALL YOU NEED
IS IMAGINATION
Orden to
M*4 bourne
HOUM.
W Trafalgar Rd.
London S£ ID
CormpafKhrnce to
To really fire your imagination, H.U.fl.G. includes
throo ready-to-play fast-action arcade games,
created using H.U.fl.G. 4
Tring, HQi1*Qh3tiMg HP£3 51U
Tf *d»» flfiQULMM wa4ecrr«
# 1 Pie.- v.w
4r
♦
♦ 48K SPECTRUM Cassettes
* E H.URG
1 TheHobbit
G Penetrator
G Terror-DaMd 4D
C Melbourne Or aw
] Computer Bridge
Abe r soft Forth
:6 95
6
14 9!
Design a Game
WIN
e
80
TOTAL
+ I enclose my □ cheque
□ money order tor
Please debil my Access card No
Expny Date
Name
Address . . .
Signature
Each month up until April 30 19S4. three prizes
will be awarded every month
for the best games of the month ^
At t he end, the best game will win j#
Postcode
a grand prize of E3.000
YOU could be a famous games
designer! Every entrant has the <
\ oppoh u n ity of be i ng puhli s tied by ♦
Wei bou rne Ho use and ^
earning royalties- A
#
Detai Is o t the competition +
are available with •"
HAJ.R.G. J*"
H.U.R.G. will be officially released in mid-December t9&3 Gel your order m now. and reserve
your copy so that you can be among the first with this revolutionary software'
Access orders can be telephoned through on our 24-hour ansafone (01) 656 7397.
[ SU1D~~|
Melbourne House
THE MOST IMAGINATIVE
GRAPHICS PROGRAMMING
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR SPECTRUM.
There's now one piece of software that's a must for The program comes complete with a cassette
every 48K SPECTRUM owner. demonstration of what you could produce with
It's called "PAINTBOX". "PAINTBOX" including a 28 page booklet describing
If you wish to exploit the full graphics capability of in easy-to-understand language how to use it for best
your machine, you can do so + . . simply and easily
with " PAINTBOX".
"PAINTBOX" is produced by Print n' Plotter
Products — the company that has pioneered (and
led) the field of graphics aids for ZX Computers.
With our name and reputation you are assured of
quality and immense graphics capability!
Take a look at the actual screen prints opposite.
They are the sort of thing you could produce on your
SPECTRUM.
With a little practice — and "PAINTBOX" — you
could be planning, producing, and utilizing these sort
of graphics in your programs — producing software
that will come alive with originality!
Just look at some of the facilities available from
"PAINTBOX": cr\Q T> C
UDG EDITOR: SO SIMPLE
Giving you the facility to define {and re-define) up ^ QH[] LD
to 84 graphics characters which can be held in
memory, stored in your BASIC programs tor instant
recall from its own built in machine code!
results and many tips for storing and using your
graphics in BASIC programs.
Of course, "PAINTBOX" is ideally suited for use
with Print 'n' Plotters other great graphics aids.
The dedicated programmer will want to use it in
conjunction with our ZX SPECTRUM 1 OTTER PAD
THE ORIGINAL (AND BEST) GRAPHICS
PLANNING PAD!
So why not place your order today?
Write now. Phone your Credit Card. Ask at your
local computer shop.
At only £7.50 (plus p&p) its a marvellous
investment for all ZX SPECTRUM owners . . . of all
ages!
PAINTBOX
COULD
USE IT!
UDG DRAWING BOARD:
A fully integrated UDG Planner for up to 4 Banks
of user-defined characters. Planning facilities include
MIRROR IMAGE, ROTATE, INVERSE, and FILE,
SKETCHPAD:
An experimentation "window" that allows you to
try-out your UDG ideas during development of the
84 graphic character set.
PRECISION PLOTTER:
An amazingly versatile high-resolution drawing
board which includes PAPER choice, INK choice,
PLOT, DRAW, DRAW RADIALLY, CIRCLE, ARC,
OVER, FILL, instant change of INK colours
(including BRIGHT), ERASE, and STORE in
permanent memory during development!
All cursor movements can be controlled by
Joystick or Keyboard operations, with choices which
include FAST or SLOW movement and "Crosswire"
or single Pixel cursor!
SCREEN PLANNER!
C ombi ning the best of both worlds! PRECISION
PLOTTER and UDG Characters! For complete
screen planning of graphics. A multi-purpose
graphics facility to enable you to produce screen
graphics that are the equal of those seen in best-
selling software!
All graphic results can be sent to the Printer, saved
as SCREENS or SAVED as CODE with its built-in
machine code routines for instant recall from BASIC,
"PAINTBOX" is such a comprehensive graphics
toolkit that it is impossible to describe it all in one
advertisement!
1
01-660 7231
24 HOUR CREDIT CARD ORDERING
Post to: Dept SU Print n' Plotter Products Ltd.. 19 Borough
High Street, London SEl 9SE. Please send me;
"PAINTBOX" SOFTWARE @ £7-50 ( +75p p + p total $8.25\
. . . . SPECTRUM JOTTER PADS @ £7.50 ( £L50 p + p total £9 J
+ . , . SPECTRUM KEYBOARD OVERLAYS @ £2.e0 ( 35p r + P
total £2.95)
. . , .5 ROLLS ZX PRINTER PAPER @ £11.55 (95p p + p total
£12.50)
SELF-ASSEMBLY CONSOLE (SPECTRUM) @ £4.50 ( 75p
p+p total £5. 25)
□ I enclose remittance in full
Please bill my Access Bare la yea rd' Visa /Mastercard No:
r
Overseas ore
NAMF
ADDRESS
ert please add 25% for additional surface mail rate
DEALERS:
PhoneOJ-403 6644 for enquiries
i
Two exciting games from Sulis
that turn the clock back years
From the Computer Age to the Bronze Age I
Thats how far back in time you start when
Sulis teach you History their way
And when it comes to mastering the
quirks of English spelling you'll find your-
self right in the middle of the Crusades!
In fact, whenever youre learning a
subject with Sulis you'll be aware of
another major difference — you're enjoying
yourself.
Time TVsvcllcr 094665a 34x £9,95mc vat
An adventure in time that tests your overall
knowledge of British history
The program contains five exciting chase
games in one: a Bronze Age forest with
wolves, a Roman fort with legionaries, a
Norman cathedral with priests and
prelates, a 16th-century ducal palace and a
Victorian sewer with rats and germs
At each stage of the game you have to
get your historical facts right before you
can slip through the time warp into the
next Age
Besieged
An utterly compulsive word game for
anyone who thinks they know which word
means what and how it is spelt
The scene is set in the age of the
Crusades, with gallant knights attempting
to relieve a beleaguered city from the grasp
of infidels.
Every word you spell correctly helps one
of your knights in their struggle Spell a
word wrong and the infidels will have the
advantage
Both of these educational games are
available for use on the ZX Spectrum and
can be obtained from W H Smith or any
other good bookshop or computer store
IP Sulis
Software
Sulis Software is marketed by John Wilev & Sans Lid, Baffin 5 Una, Chieheatar, West Sussex PQ19 1UD. England
SINCLAIR USER January im
Lucky bag heralds the
new year for members
For only £2 you will receive five cassettes to accompany any
hardware or software order this month
CLUB
BENEFITS
Bi-monthly club cassette
available id all club mcm-
h^rs.
Special discounts on hard-
ware, software and books.
Members recover their
membership Fee many
limes over.
Free Club software.
Machine code teach-in.
Telephone Helpline.
Technical advice.
AS A SPECIAL new year
offer to Club members we are
giving away, for a nominal
£2, a cassette lucky bag with
any orders. Each bag will
contain five cassettes, some of
which will be among the top
tapes for the Spectrum and
ZX-81.
At that price we cannot
guarantee the quality but
there is a good chance you
will be lucky.
In our main offer we have
hardware and software items,
The Currah Microspeech
unit can be added to the back
of the Spectrum and, when it
is hooked to a television set, it
will produce speech through
the speaker. The unit can say
almost anything and to pro-
gram it all you have to do is
put what you want it to say in
a variable.
The Microspeech is even
more attractive because many
software companies are using
its capabilities in their soft-
ware. The unit is offered at
10 percent off the normal
price.
We are also offering a
range of games from PSS, a
major software house, for the
ZX-81 and Spectrum. They
include Maze Death Race
in which you drive your su-
percharged racer through a
giant mazej and Panic, a
game in which you have to
knock your enemies into
holes you have just dug.
Also included from PSS
are two traditional arcade
games, Krazy Kong, which
entails rescuing a girl from
King Kong, and Hopper, a
bright and exciting version of
Frogger.
As usual, the offers are
available only to members of
the Club and they will be
available until the end of Jan-
uary. New members should
order along with their appli-
cations.
A chess offer that the
ladies cannot refuse
WE HOPE all the males will
forgive us if we concentrate
mainly on the girls this
month. Are computers taking
over from the more accepted
domestic pastimes? Unfortu-
nately not. Checking our re-
cords we were ama2ed to find
that fewer than seven percent
of our club members are fe-
male.
That seven percent seems
to be active. One of the games
on the club cassette is an
original game, Mermaid,
which was contributed by
Marietta Everett, Perhaps
that will encourage more to
participate in the Club,
To tempt them even more,
we make an offer they cannot
refuse. To every female who
applies for membership this
month we will send a free
Mikro-Gen ZX Chess pro-
gram for the ZX-81 or a
Mikro-Gen Masterchess
program for the Spectrum.
Mikro-Gen is participating
in the offer as part of its
promotion of Masterchess,
which has recently had an on-
screen digital clock and an
opening book of 5 3 000 moves
added to one of the best chess
programs available.
The offer will mean effec-
tively that Club membership
will cost only £5, as the chess
programs are worth £7. Com-
bine that with all the advan-
tages of the club, including
special offers, bi-monthly
club cassettes, newsletters,
telephone help line and tech-
nical advice, and clearly it
will be the best value for £12
you have ever spent,
Usual
Offer
price
price
Spectrum
Currah Microspeecli unit
£29.95
£26.95
PSS
Panic
Maze Death Uaee
Krazy Kong
lit, htu>r
£5.95
£4.95
£5.95
£5.95
£5.06
£4.21
£5,06
£5.06
ZX-81
Maze Death Race
Krazy Kong
Hopper
£3.95
£3.95
£3.95
£3.36
£3*36
£3,36
MEMBERSHIP
FORM
1 wish to join the Sinclair User Club and enclose my
subscription off 12
Name .* + + + *»....... ■*•*'*•>■
Address
Which computer do you own?
XX-81 f 1 Spectrum 1 1
Send your coupons to Sinclair User Club, ECC
Publications, 196-200 Balis Pond Road, London Nl
4AQ. Cheques should be made payable to Sinclair
User Club.
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
Sinclair User Club
Britain
Aylesbury Computer Oub: 12 Long Plough, A&ton Clinton, Ayles-
bury, Bucks
Aylesbury ZX Computer Club; Ken Knight, 22 Mount Stnct,
Aylesbury or 630867). Meetings: first Wednesday and third
Thursday of the month.
Basildon: Roundacre Microcomputer Users' Club. J Hazcll, Basildon
28SL I9J416333. Meetings every Wednesday 7,30 10 10.30pm
Bristol Yate and Sudbury Computer Club: 99 Woodchester Yale,
Bristol, BSI7 4TX.
Oilchmef Sinclair User Group: Richard Lown, 102 Prettygatc Road,
Colchester CO 3 4EE.
Crewe and Nantwich Computer Users' Club: ] E A Nymondson, 46
London Road, Si ape ley, Nantwich, Cheshire CWS 7JL.
Doncaster and District Micro Club: John Woods, 60 Dundus Road,
Wheatley, Doncastcr DN2 4DR; (0302) 29357. Meetings held on second
ind fourth Wednesday of each month.
hastwood Town Microcomputer Club: h N Ryan, l"S Queens Square,
Fast wood, Nottingham NG16 3BJ.
Edinburgh: Edinburgh Home Computing Club |nhn Palmer (031 661
3183) or lain Robertson (031 44 1 2361),
EZUG-Educational ZX-80 81 Users* Group: Eric Deeson, Highgatc
School, Birmingham BI2 9DS,
I urness Computer Club: R J C Wade, h7 Sands Road, inversion,
Cambria (Ulvcrton 55068). Meets every oihcr week on Wednesday
evenings.
Glasgow ZX-80-81 Users' Club: lan Walt. I (IV Gieenwoud Road,
Qarkston, Glasgow G76 7LW (041 638 1241). Meetings: second and
fourth Mnndav ol each month.
Gravescnd Computer Club: cfo The Extra Tuition Centre, 39 The
Terrace, Gravesend, Kent DA 12 2BA. Bimonthly magazine and mem
bership card.
Hassocks ZX Micro User Club, Sussex: Paul King (Hassocks 4530).
Inverclyde ZX-B1 Users' Club: Robert Watt, 9 St. John's Road,
Gourock, Renfrewshire FA19 1PL (Gourock 39967). Meetings: Every
other week on Monday at Greenock Society of the Ileal', Kelly Street,
Greenock.
Keignley Computer Club: Colin Price, Redholt, Ingrow, KeigMcy
(603133).
Lambeth Computer Club: Robert Barker, 54 Brixton Road, London
SW9 6BS.
Liverpool ZX Club: Meetings every Wednesday 7ptn at Youth Activities
Centre. Belmont Road, Liverpool 6. Details from Keiih Archer, 031-236
6109 (daytime). ,
Manchester Sinclair Users* Club: Meets every Wednesday, 7.30pm*
at Longsight Library, 519 Stockport Road, Longsight - 061-225 6997 or
061 445 6316.
Merseysidc Go-op ZX Users' Group: Keith Driscoll, 53 Melville
Road, Bootlc, Merseyside L20 6NE; 051-922 3163.
Micro Users 1 Group: 316 Kingston Road, Ewell, Epsom, Surrey KT19
0SY
Newcastle (Staffs) Computer Club: Meetings at Newcastle Youth and
Adult Centre, Thursday, 7-30 to 10 pm. Further information from R G
Martin (0782 62065).
North Hertfordshire Home Computer Club: R Crutchfield, 2 Dur-
ham Road, Stevenage, Meetings: first Friday of the month at the
Settlement, Ncvells Road, Letchworth.
Northern Ireland Sinclair Users* Club: P Gibson, 1 1 Fitzjames Park,
Newttjwnards, Co Down BT23 4BU.
North London Hobby Computer Club: ZX users' group meets at
North London Polytechnic, Holloway Road, London N7 each Monday,
6pm
Nottingham Microcomputer Club: ZX-SD-81 users' group, G F
Basford, 9 Holme Close, The Pastures, Woodborough, Nottingham.
Nottingham ZX Spectrum Club: Would like fee hear from new
members. D Beanie and P Riley, 53 Kingsley Crescent, Sawley, Long
Eaton, Nottingham NG10 3DA
Orpington Computer Club: Roger Fyau, 23 Arundel Drive, Orping-
ton, Kent (Orpington 2028 1 ).
Perth and District Amateur Computer Society: Alastair MacFher-
son, 154 Oakbank Road, l'errh PHI I HA {29633). Meetings: third
Tuesday ol each month at Hunters Ixnlge Motel, Bankfoot.
Regis Amateur Microcomputer Society: R H Waltis, 22 Mallard
Crescent, Pagham, Bognot Regis, West Sussex P02 1 4UU,
Roche Computer Club: 8 Victoria Road, Coop Rooms, Roche, Corn-
wall; 0726 890473.
Scunthorpe ZX Club: C P Hazlcton, 26 Rilestone Place, Botlesford,
Scunthorpe; (0724 63466).
Sheffield: Somh York-din*. Personal Computing Group. Enquiries to R
Alder i on (0742 20571), S Gray (0742 351440), P Sanderson (0742
351895).
SLrungbourne: Anurag Vidyarrh (0795 73149). Would be mteresied to
hear from anyone who wants to start a club near the Mcdway towns.
St Albans: Bi-monthly meetings and a magazine Details from Adam
Slater, 40 Watford Road, Si Albans, Herts AL1 2HA Telephone: 0727
54 1 76.
Stratford -on -A von ZX Users' Group: Chris Parry, 16 Sackville Close,
St rat ford-on- A von, Warwickshire-
Swansea Computer Club: B J Candy, Jr Gorlau, KJIlay, Swansea
(20381 1).
Swindon ZX Computer Club: Andrew Bartlett, 47 Grosve K i :
Swindon, Wilts SNl 4LT; (0793) 3077. Monthly meetings and library.
Sutton: Sutton Library Computer Club, D Wilkins. 22 Chestnut Coun,
Mulgrave Koad, Sutton, Surrey S\\2 fd.K
West Sussex: Midlmrsi and District Computer Csci Group. Enquiries
to V Weston (073 061 3876), R Armes (073 081 3279),
Worlc Computer Club: S W Rabone, 18 Castle Road, Worle, Weston*
super-Mare BS22 9JW (Weston-super-Mare 513068). Meetings:
Wood&prings Inn, Worle, on alternate Mondays.
ZX Aid: Conrad Roe. LIS Cherry Tree Avenue, Walsall WS5 41.11. Please
include sac. Meetings twice monthly.
ZX-807ZX-S1 Users' Clubi PO Box 159, Kingston-on Thames, A postal
club.
Overseas
Austria: ZX User Club, Thomas Christian, do Wissensehaft Forschl c,
V., Po&rlaeh 141, Al 190 Vienna. Meets every first Friday of the month
Telephone 0222-44 32 050 for details.
Belgium: ASM. BDMA Belgium National Sinclair Club; P Glenisson,
Rue De rEpcestraat, 14, 1200 Bruxelles.
Belgium, France and Luxembourg: Club Sinclair, Raymong Bet/, 5rt
Chemin du Moulin 38, BI32B Ohain, Belgium (322 6537468).
Belgian User Group for Sinclair owners (BUGS); Op dc Bccdt, Patrick,
Drabs! raat 144, 2510 MortseL
Micro-Europe Club; R Beiz, Chemin du Moulin, RI328, Oham, Bel-
gium. Telephone: CCP 000 0846556-37.
Denmark: Danmarks National ZX-8061 Klub (DNZK), Jens Larson,
Skovmoscvci 6.4200 Slagelese, post giro 1 46 24 66.
ZZ-Brugergruppen i Danmark, Hoks 41. .>V' 51 ..i'.n-rc, Gratis roedlems*
kah og gratis blad til enhver intcresserei
J Niels Erik llartmann, OZ ZX Radioamaior, Krugcr Gruppe, Bredgade
25 DK-4900, Nakskov.
East Netherlands: Jonathon Meyer, Van Spaen Straat 22,6524 H.N
Nijmegcn; (080 223411).
Germany: ZX 80 Club, a po* Tal clubi contact Thomas Jcncyzyk.
n.inu-ln, l'ositaeh 6 "5 D-3250 Hamelo, Germany.
Indonesia: Jakarta ZX -80/81 Users* Club, J S Wijaya, PO Box 20, Jkukg,
Jakarta, Utara, Indonesia.
Irish Amateur Computer Club: Martin Slapleton, 48 Sca L ourt f
Clonrarf, Dublin 3. (331304).
Italy: Sinclair Club, Vie Molimo Vcccho so/E, 40026 Imola, Italy.
Gcnova Sinclair Club; Virtorio Gioia, Via F Corridoni, 2 1, telephone 010
3125 51.
Micro-Europe: Belgium or Club Paris-Miero, 19 Rue de Tilly, 92700,
Colombcs, France; associated with Club Micro-Europe.
Republic of Ireland: Irish ZX-B081 Users' Club, 73 Cnoc Crionain,
Batle Atha, Cliath 1
Singapore: Sinclair Users" Group: Eric Mortimer, ID Wdmcr Court,
Leonie Hill Road, Singapore.
South Africa: Johannesburg ZX-80-81 Computer Users' Club: S Lucas,
do Hoechsi SA fPty) Ltd, PO Box 8692, Johannesburg.
Johannesburg ZX Users 1 Club: Lennen E R Fisher, PO Box 61446,
Marshallstown. Johannesburg..
Spain: Club Nacional de Usuarios del ZX-81, Joseph-Oriol Tomas,
Avda. dc Madrid, No 20^ 207, 10, la e>c A Banelnnj II hspana.
lulernational ZX Spectrum i'.\ub. (idtuiL-l Indak-^io <!aru>, Saidjna, 4
atrico 2a, San Andres dc la Barca, Barcelona Send international reply
coupon. Produces a bi-monthly magazine. Spanish ZX Micro Chin:
Apartado 181, Alicante (Costa Blanca), Spain.
ZX Club Spain; C Benito PO Box 3253, Madrid, Spain
Swedish ZX-elub; Sinclair Daiorklubbcn, Box 1007, S-122, 22 Ens-
kede, Sweden.
United States: Bay Area ZX80 User Group, 2660 Las Aromas, Oakland
CA946IL-HarvardGroup, Bolton Road, Harvard MA 01451: (617 456
3967).
12
SINCLAIR USER 7jnujrv !984
The dream makers
7
CRL brings a whole new world of excitement right into your
living room!
Games that te st y ou r skills to th eultnn ate whe the r it' s zap ping
down invaders or playing a whole game of cricket.
Only CRL offers such a wide choice of computer programs for the
world's most popular micros.
. . . catch one today at Mri^n^Bnols, W. H. Smiths.
Spectrum Group and all good computer shops or send
direct to CRL,
Never has so much excitement been contained in a cassette!
CHL House, 9 Kings Yard r
Carpenters Road, LONDON E1S 2HD.
Tet : 01 533 £918
I I H . i M
i ' I -.?v ' . fl
See page 1 40 for further details and order form.
Spectrum
3D TANX
Spectrum
CENT I- BUG
Spectrum
METEOROIP5
Spectrum #
Sound fX
J-
Spectrum
SPAWN OF EVIL
Spectrum
SOUND FX
E**1 »X^^ I li^ t ) #
Spectrum #
Dictator 1
f - .
Spectrum
ASTRON
Spectrum
ZXE0
Spectrum
DICTATOR
Spectrum
TROM
Spectrum
PERSONAL FINANCE
Spectrum
2003
A SPACE ODDITY
Spectrum
APPLE JAM
PUFFIN BRING YOU 4 BOOK & SOFTWARE PACKAGES
THAT ARE OUT OF THIS WORLD!
Great ideas have never been alien to Puffin. And these stunning fantasy book and software
packs are no exception! A truly exciting and
original combination ot story and computer
programs from sci-fi to sorcery
ft.* t*»f'N limutY 1
* v 1N To ♦
THE EMP
THE KQRTH TRILOGY— £4.95 EACH
Dare you take on the awesome might of the Korth Empire?
Your swash buck ling skills will need to be at their sharpest
in this intergalactic fighting fantasy!
Each od venture pock contains:
*an illustrated science fiction adventure story plus . . .
*a cassette with three specially created programs
THE WARLOCK OF FIRETOP
MOUNTAIN
Book and software pack —£6.95
Software tape only —£5.50
A maze of hideous complexity
riddled with nasty surprises and
fiendish traps lies between you
and the Warlock's treasure and
on.y the very skilled will survive!
Warlock pack contains:
*Warlock of Firetop Mountain story book plus
♦Cassette with specially created programs for
your Spectrum ( 48K.)
far your Spectrum ( 1 6K ond ASK ). ^ pypp^ p^Qf^ COMPUTER COLLECTION
News
Fault on
model three
denied
SINCLAIR RESEARCH
has answered suggestions
that The model three Spec-
trum is incompatible with
some software on the market.
The company says that no
major range of software has
been affected, so far as it
knows, by the change in the
ULA reported several
months ago.
It adds that the operation
of the Spectrum has in no
way changed and it is
through the assumptions of
some software houses that
difficulties have occurred.
Problems have occurred
with some software because it
was taken for granted that the
values from the three higher-
order bits from bytes coming
from the keyboard will al-
ways be one. That assump-
tion is not correct and the
company thinks it unwise to
take such a thing for granted.
Bugs to be
rectified
ODYSSEY COMPUTING j
producer of ZX-81 high-reso-
lution games and utilities, has
been having difficulty with
two items in its range. The
tapes in question are High-
Resolution Zorf and High-
Resolution Graphics in
which there are several bugs.
The company is doing its
best to rectify the situation
and will otTer money back to
customers who have a faulty
version ol the programs.
It also warns that custom-
ers may wait for new tapes or
for the fulfilment of orders
but it cannot state definitely
when the programs will be
ready for re-release.
If customers have queries
they should write to Odyssey
Computing, 28 Bingham
Road, Sherwood, Notting-
ham, NG5 2EP. Alterna-
tively they can write to the
advertising department of
Sinclair User.
Copyright question
remains open
SETTLEMENT talks have
been concluded between
Atari arid Namco on the one
hand, and Philips and Com-
modore on the other. Atari
claimed in October that the
Philips Munchkin program
and the Commodore Jelly-
monsters infringed its copy-
right of Pac-Man. It was
widely expected that a legal
ruling on the case would es-
tablish a precedent on soft-
ware copyright but the
New anti-piracy device
A NEW DEVICE to prevent
software piracy has been in-
vented by Professor Adi Sha-
mir at the Weizmann
Institute of Science in Israel.
It would be applicable mainly
to disc units of bigger micro-
computers but it could also
help to prevent piracy of tele-
software on databases and
networks, such as Micronet
800, which have hundreds of
small computers logging into
them every day.
Where it differs from other
types of software anti-piracy
devices is that it will also
allow a manufacturer to limit
the amount of times a pro-
gram is used.
The system prevents copy-
ing by taking into account the
relative weakness of a signal
which has been copied from
one storage medium to
another. Professor Shamir
says:
"The beauty of the system
is that it is cheap to imple-
ment and does not require
modification or computers al-
ready on the market."
Mike Johnston, secretary
of the Guild of Software
Houses, was pleased to hear
of the new device, which
could be of benefit to some
members of the group. He
says:
"My first reaction is that it
will be of some use and I
would like to hear more about
it. New security devices such
as this are needed all the
time, because no sooner are
they in operation than some
bright spark has cracked
them."
parties concerned decided to
settle out of court, leaving the
question open again.
Although at present the
law specifically forbids pirat-
ing of tapes, the line between
plagiarism and the fair use of
available material has not
been clearly defined. Several
recent cases involving copy-
right have been settled out of
court but it is thought that
the forthcoming Filctab Sup-
port Services case against the
National Computer Centre
about the use of Usertab and
Filetab may give a few point-
ers.
A Bill to give explicit copy-
rif'hi protection lo computer
programs will be introduced
by Lord Lloyd to Parliament
in this session. "It is a piece-
meal piece of legislation,"
says a leading computer soft-
ware specialist, "and it is un-
likely to go through because
of its knock-on effect on other
laws. It may force the Gov-
ernment to issue a policy
statement on software copy
right but it may take two
years before we see definite
changes in the law."
Computers star in TV shows
THE COMPUTER BOOM The Thames Television
is taking over on television, series Database, hosted by
following the introduction of Tony Bastable, has |ust fin-
the BBC Computer Fro- ished and Central Television
gramme two years ago. has a series along similar
lines. It is called Magic Mi-
cro Mission and is hosted by
Adrian Hedley and Jo Wheel-
er. Hedley plays the captain
of the show and leads the cast
and guests on a journey in a
spaceship through the world
of computers.
Yorkshire Television is
now thinking of producing its
own show. The company is
seeking users who have ap-
plied their computers to
strange tasks, such as feeding
a dog and blowing up bal-
loons.
More information can be
obtained from Yorkshire
Television, The Television
Centre, Leeds LS3 IJS.
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
IV
Expansion in
Europe being
planned
DURING a conference for
overseas disiributors in Cam-
bridge and a conference tour
of European countries, Sin-
clair Research has given de-
tails of its sales plans for the
European market, including
the introduction of the Inter-
face One and Microdrive.
The marketing details for
the devices were discussed
with respect to the countries
visited, which included
France, West Germany, Swe-
den, Italy and Spain.
Sinclair also introduced
several new computer ven-
tures in the countries visited.
In Paris, the company dis-
played a new special interface
designed to enable customers
to use the Spectrum with the
SECAM television system.
Until now potential custom-
ers have not been able to buy
Spectrums in Britain because
of the differences in the tele-
vision systems.
The Stockholm conference
featured a new keyboard de-
vice which will allow the use
of extra letters in the Swedish
alphabet to be used in pro-
grams.
Sinclair Research intends
to make Europe and the other
international markets, such as
the U.S., its top priority. It
visualises 300 million poten-
tial customers in Europe,
Nearly 40 percent of Sin-
clair computers are produced
for export and Sinclair will
continue with that plan. It
anticipate nuking i".1.5 bil-
lion with the European fig-
ures taken into account this
year. Nigel Searle, managing
director of Sinclair Research,
says:
"We place tremendous im-
portance on exploring new
markets for Sinclair products.
The U.K. now holds the
number one position in per
capita ownership of personal
computers and our exper-
iences at home can and will
be utilised in export markets.
Software building up
for Microdrive
ORDERS fulfilled for Inter-
face One and Microdrives
have not yet passed the 1,000
mark but some companies are
adapting their existing soft-
ware to work with the Micro-
drive,
Richard Shepherd Soft-
ware is selling Cash Con-
troller with an extra menu
option for Microdrive storage
and retrieval.
The immediate advantage
is that the program can be
saved on to Microdrive and
recalled quickly but little
seems to have been done to
increase the amount of data
which can be retrieved by the
program. The other company
using Microdrive is Camp-
bell Systems and its data stor-
age programs is Masterfile.
It has been adapted so thai
the user can store and recall
data on to the cartridge and
modification to the existing
program is minimal.
According to Sinclair Re-
search, several companies
have shown interest in put-
ting software on to Micro-
drive cartridge.
Development has been
hampered by the lack of car-
tridges available, although
Sinclair hopes to arrange
with software houses about
the distribution of software
on cartridge in the near fu-
ture.
Orders for the Interface
One and Microdrive are still
being completed slowly as
Sinclair does not want to
hurry a process which may
cause difficulties.
A spokesman for the com-
pany says that from what in-
formation it has, one in 10
people ordering bought only
an Interface One. That is sur-
prising, as most customers
will not have access to two
interfaces and would not be
able to use the RS232 and
networks which it supplies.
Cambridge Award presented
THE CAMBRIDGE Award
Trophy for programming, co-
sponsored by Sinclair User
and Cases Computer Simula-
tions, was presented to Mark
Lucas at the ZX Microfair at
Alexandra Palace, London.
His program, Battle 1917,
is a war simulation for the
Spectrum. As well as receiv-
ing the trophy, Lucas collects
a cheque for £ 1,000 and the
royalties from his program
which will be marketed by
Cases Computer Simula-
tions. He was also treated to a
champagne dinner by one of
the representatives of the
software company.
The second prize for the
Spectrum was foT War 70,
also a battle simulation was
written by Mike Wheeler, a
reader from Sale.
The second prize for ZX-
81 software went to John
Sherry ofKeele, StalTs for his
program Brood slayer, an
adventure game for the 16K
machine. The ZX-S1 and
Spectrum prize winners each
received £250. Third prize
for a Spectrum game went to
N. Holgate of Camber ley,
Surrey for Oligopoly, a
game of skill and intrigue set
in the world of business. For
the ZX-81 the third prize was
won by Christopher North, 2
Connaught Terrace, South-
end, Bedall, North Yorkshire
for another adventure called
Barrows Quest. The third
place winners received £100
each.
Nigel Clark, managing edi-
tor of Sinclair User and joint
chairman of the judges says:
"We were impressed with the
level of entries. We are plan-
ning to run another competi-
tion along the same lines
soon,"
Melvyn Lloyd-Jones, a di-
rector of Cases Computer
Simulations, the other joint
chairman, says: "The first
two Spectrum winners were
close, but the deciding factor
which Lead us to select Battle
1917 was the simplicity of the
rules which added to its ad-
dictiveness." There were 10
runners-up for the Spectrum
and ZX-81,
Each will win five CCS
programs and a free annual
subscription to Sinclair User.
Spectrum: Blocked In, D,
Milwain, Oldham, Lanca-
shire; Mummies and the
Crown, C* Headley, Way-
bridge, Surrey j Dominoes,
K, Fisher, Buxton, Derby-
shire; Magic Jokers, C.
Powell, Wembley, Middx;
Dark Realm, P. Darnaa, New-
Maiden, Surrey; Diver, P.
Caris, Farlington, Beds;
Heart Attack, C. North,
Southend, Bedall; Harry
Goes Home, A. Bond, Rum-
san, Banstaple; Treasure Is-
land, A. Clenson,
Wolverhampton; Toy I and,
C, Jones, St. Annes-on-Sea,
Lanes. ZX-81: Boxes, W,
Blackburn, Sharpies, Bolton;
Survival Maze, James Kown-
tree, Chester, Cheshire; Hil-
das Revenge, S. Walters,
Cannock, StafTs; Convoy, J.
Hntwistle, Cheltenham,
Gloc; Pipeline, M. Moor,
Cray ford, Dartford; The An-
dromeda Trophy, M.
Brooker, Broadhead, Strand;
Marvin the Monopolist, D.
Warner, Wolverton, Milton
Keynes; Striking a Spark, J.
Lowiher, Hey Wood, Lanes;
Barons, Haxby, Yorks;
Tower of Evil, J. Cul-
lingham, Crowthorn, Berks.
SINCLAIR USER January 1964
ZX-81 sales are still
going strong
Sinclair aims
for new BBC
contract
SIR CLIVE SINCLAIR in-
tends to fight Acorn Comput-
ers, and others, for the
contract to build the new
BBC computer. The contract
will be awarded to the winner
in the autumn and the BBC is
already having consultations
with Acorn.
Sinclair Research has
fought for the contract twice
already and the Spectrum
could have been the first
BBC computer if Acorn had
not made a deal with BBC
first. Sir Give, however, is
confident that he can win this
time. He has submitted a re-
quest for the specifications of
the projected new machine,
One of the things which
could win Sinclair the con-
tract is its impressive sales
record, with sales of the Spec-
trum reaching beyond the
million mark. The more ex-
pensive BBC micro has sales
of about 200,000.
FEARS about the demise of
the ZX-81 and the 16K Spec-
irum have been quashed by
Sinclair Research. A spokes-
man for the company says:
" About six months ago we
thought that the ZX-81
would not last for much long-
er and we thought about
winding-down its manufac-
ture.
"We have no date for a
wind-down now, as the ma-
FORMER Prime Minister
Harold Macmillan was guest
of honour at the launch of a
new range of educational soft-
ware produced by Sinclair
Research in conjunction with
Macmillan publishing.
His family founded the
company 140 years ago and
I he spoke of the great techno-
chine has gone from strength
to strength. We hope it will
continue to sell well in the
first few months of the year.
We think sales will now be
concentrated in third world
countries, with demand fall-
ing in the LLK."
There are no plans to drop
the 16K Spectrum. Sinclair
Research will continue to sell
the machine but it cannot
confirm chat individual sup-
logical advances in his life-
time. "What is said is still as
important as the method of
saying it," he commented.
The nine initial programs
in the range are based on the
widely-used Macmillan Edu-
cational school textbooks.
Two software houses,
Five- Ways Software and
pliers will continue to pro-
vide stocks to retailers. A
spokesman for the company
says:
"We have no plans to cease
production but sales have
shown that the 48K Spec-
trum is out-selling the I6K
version by four to one. None
of the big retailers, such as W T
H Smith, has shown any in-
clination to drop the machine
from stocks."
Fisher-Mariott, were involved
in developing the programs
which sell at £9.95 each.
Although Sinclair Re-
search plans to expand its
Macmillan software range, a
company spokesman syy* it
will also be producing edu-
cational programs in coniunc-
tion with other firms.
Joint educational programs launch
Put everything
you need on
the keyboard
with a Custom
Keypanel Kit.
Everything you ncetl
I Son [lie kcvboard wiih
<;rsTo\i M:\ in\i as
Th&t precision die-cut plastic panels fit perfectly
over your ke\ hoard and provide an inslanl and
individual reference to all of your soft ware.
Each Kit comes in a clear plastic storage wallet and
contains; 10 Matt black Ko -panels plus sheets
a uitaini ng < Tver I tO self adhesive ( lommand la be Is
pre-print ed with words, symbols and arrows, plus a
sheet < jf blanks lor \our c rvvn designs
SPECTRl'M KFYPANKLS are 96x22 -imni and the
labels are printed in 'Spectrum' bright red. A Ml ST
lor flight simulation and all multi-key games and
applications.
' I "h c H RST add- Oil for y t yu r Spect ru m .
ORIC KEYPANELS are 105x275mm and the labels
are ORIC blue. Master those- CTRL and f S( kc\
combinations
An INSTANT reference to all C )KtCs keyboard
functions.
New available from W H SMITH and other good computer stores.
tiJtiay to Softeach I iniiteil < iulk-^t- Ksjad, RcjUing
Berkshire, Rt 1 OK. vtt di-fun h u > y\m firn tAmt r* i*t nttura
Please- M.-nd me:
... Spectrum Kcyparu-I Kiis At £.*.*)5 + S5p p&peaeh
(iKrrM.-a!t should add 25'Jfi fur additional sulfate mail )
OR]<; Keypanel Kits at + p&p cadi
(overseas slmukl add .*S " lor additional surfaee mail )
I enc lose j total remittance oft eheques postal
orders payable to Softeaeh Limited
NAME *
ADDRESS
L
ZX 81, SPECTRUM, DRAGON
BBC AND VIC
SOFTWARE LENDING LIBRARY
We have for hire programs for your computer. Hire
charges start at 50p
£5 life membership (less than the cost of a single
game) brings you the SOFTWARE LENDING
LIBRARY membership kit, including catalogue and
newsletter.
We now have over 200 hire titles, mostly for the
Spectrum. We deal with all orders by return of
post. Overseas members are welcome.
Many major titles which we cannot hire are dis-
counted to our members at up to 20% off.
Send cheque or PO for £5 to:
SOFTWARE LENDING LIBRARY
PO BOX 3, CASTLEFORD,
WEST Y0RKS +
Stating name, address and computer type.
AH tapes used with manufacturers' permission.
LEARN TO PLAY
BRIDGE ON YOUR
HOME COMPUTER
Enjoy learning to play bridge with Bndgemaster a
complete bridge tutor professionally prepared with
world expert Terence Reese
Listen to the commentary as you are coached step by
step through the game While you listen you will
learn and play brrdge Bndgemasler contarns
commentary and computer tapes and a useful
reference book — everything you need to learn bridge
"'Bndgemasrer really does bring the game alive for the
beginner "Soft,"
"A really professional prog/am 100% value for
money Home Computing Weekfy.
For the Sinclair ZX Spectrum 16f48K. Commodore 64.
BBC B and Electron — £24.95
Sinclair ZXBf I FC71 6K - £19.95
Available from Boots a rid other leading computer
stores or direct from Bridge master. Free post. Dept. IUX
POBok 16*, SLOUGH SLZ 3YY,
Prices include VAI, poll and packing Remittance! payable to Bridge-mailer
20
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
TOO PROGRAMS
FOR THE
Z * SPECTRUM —
CASSETTE
r
r
For both the 16K and 48 K versions of the Spectrum, the 100 programs in this large-format paperback
and cassette provide a unique software library for the new user. Games, business applications, graphics,
science, mathematics and home uses are among the topics covered.
A cassette containing the 100 programs, with a booklet that explains how to load and run the programs,
is available as an optional extra,
December '83
£7.95 paperback c. 220 pages
£12.50 cassette including VAT
13-634766-5
13-634774-6
January 84
Published in June 83— a practical
guide to the ZX Spectrum, ideal fur
first-time users, Graphics, sound and
making musk: on the Spectrum are
special features of this book
"The straightforward text is well written,
punctuated by cartoons, and aver I 70
helpful diagrams a bandy book
that complements Sinclair^ own
manual irery well * Electronics and
Music Maker
1
SPECTRA
£6.95 paperback
240 pages 13-9&5028-7
Price*, which Include postagr and pat king,
in coned at I he time of going press
but mny be iiibjecl to change,
Orders
These book* and cassettes ran bf ■ hUti/ >■ !i ,i usual brwiKsi'llpr
of m case of dllticulty from Department 30 . Prr nin -r- Hull 1 ni rr national
66 Wood Un> Fnd, Hrmrl Htrmpsiead. Hertfordshire I fP2 4 KG.
England.
Pta&.se mark the number of items you wish to order m (he box be* id* eac h
title and return the advertisement lo lh# <iddre»% above Pncn include
postage and packing Phja** allow Zfl days tot delivery
I auJhonse you to debit my credit card accomnl w(|h
thv amuunt of Sl
Mv \:>.e-*, 'Vwn.iii FxprKMi/Batclaycatd No is
Eicptrydale
I enclose a cheque/PC lor £
Payment should be mad* out to I NTrLftNATtONAl BOOK
JIISTRIB17TOKS.
Nam?
Aii d T ess
• ,| I . JIV
Prentice Hall
International
SINCLAIR USER January 1 984
A NEW WORLD OF ADVENTURE
STflL SifjWW
ADVENTURES OF
ST.BCRflBRD
BLACK CRYSTAL
A THIRD CONTINENT SERIES
ADVENTURE
The Classic a* program adventure
game lor the 4BK Spectrum and 16K
2*8 1 computers No software collection
is complete without if "Black Crystal
an excellent graphics adventure and a
well rhougni out package Sinclair
Umt April 63 ' Black Crystal has
•moressed me fay its sheer auantny and
generally h»gh quaky of oresernalion I
am afrd^cj i have Become an addict "
Home Co-iQuftrtg Weekly Aprif 83
Spectrum 48K 180K u< program m six
pans Oflh £7,50
ZJtfll IfiK over 10OK ol pju-g- .
seven pans only £7,80
WHY PAY MORE FOR LESS OF AN
ADVENTURE?
TNE ADVENTURES OF
ST. BERNARD
An fuelling, tasi moving^ mactune code
arcade game where you guide your
.nirepid St Bornafd through ihe perils of
ine icy wastelands to rescue his M«stresc
trorn ihe clinches o< the abominable
snowman
Available for 48K Spectrum £5.95
VOLCANIC DUNGEON
A THIRD CONTINENT SERIES
VENTURE
reafem of Myth and Mac
>s Imprisoned <n a
eep within the Vrjteamc
■ indom Dungeon set ups
can play inis addictive
and owe* aga>n Single;
>ut tiresome typing
other fetf Adventures,
ion Manuai rtffi Mac ot Dungeon
The wnoie game mecharMSm makes for
a very Addictive Program, ana one that
ns a firm favourite with many
ets
if Computing MfeftMy. June 1963
For the 4SK Spectrum or ZX-B1 16K
# CS 00
THE CRYPT by Stephen Renton
PrHisare your sell for Ihe many
challenges that shall confront you wheo
you dare fo enter THE CRYPT,
batf'a *rith g^ant &corpon? H*>i! spawn
Craners Poe - Negs ana rt you are
unlucky enough - the Dark CyC»ops m
* this arcade style adventure.
_ Available lor the 48 K Spectrum at
£4.95
STARFORCE ONE
Tnko on 1he robot guardians o* the
contra* computer in a superbly styfcsed
" we dimensional battle game,
(ido^s machine code arcade action}
Available for 48K Spectrum E5.95
THE DEVIL RIDES IN
I uttered ihe lasi irK»r»tflbon& as the
clocK struck thirteen AN te*l aitem except
lor a faint rustling in Ihe corner From
out of <he shadows ihey came all Hefts
Jury againsi me du^ l was not
dorcnsGlees. until the Angel on Doatn
.Mngeci ho* so jomco the battle
Avoidr-ifi his bolts n' heft lwe \ look
:• r .in M\ !-' ! :i;h-*> .vete sfim bul
my ruck heta ; »
(Fast moving, machine code, all
action. Arcade game)
Available Tor 4&K Spectrum E5.95
STARFORCE ONE
>£S IM
• flf£"
bove are available through most good computer stores or direct from:
CARNELL SOFTWARE LTD.,
North Weylands Ind. Est,. Mo.esey Road. Hersham, Surrey KT12 3PL*
DEALERS: Contact us tor your nearest wholesaler.
FROM CARNELL SOFTWARE
"THE WRATH OF MAGRA
A THIRD CONTINENT
SERIES ADVENTURE
The first born has been destroyed. The
Black Crystal of Beroth has been banished.
Theaj'iance of Evil has been defeated by the
armies y Lord FendaK So ends the Third
Age. Now we invite you to write your name
in the history of the Fourth Age of the Third
Continent
You will meet friends and enemies, old and
new. in the long awaited sequel to Volcanic
Dungeon Using high resolution graphics
and combining the best qualities of 'Black
Crystal" and "Volcanic Dungeon", we will
allow you to become part of this tale of
revenge.
The Wrath of Magra" comes as three, 48K
programmes on cassette boxed with in-
struction manual and book detailing the his-
tory of the Third Continent and the many
spells you will be using throughout the
game. For the 48K Spectrum @ El 2 50
NOTE: The Wrath of Magra is a complete
adventure You need not buy Volcanic
Dungeon or "Black Crystal" to play »t
Available from Feb 84
AIRLINE A wing and a prayfl* will
not oe enough 10 1um your £3
million 10 £30 m*on tfi the lime
allowed but your tinanoal wizardry
win enable you Co take n* Brush
Airways, or will it? Runs on ZXB)
1©K - £5 WXI Spectrum
- C6
CORN
CROPPER
STRATEGY G AWES
EM
CORN CROPPEH Limned cash and
Noughts are Iwo of the problems
ISCJrtQ trie farmer Planning terttlizing
and harvesting must art be done
ecoricmiCaJly if you are Co reap Ihe
rewards afflered >n corn cropper
Runs on ZXBt 16K - £5 and
Spectny 16K'4BK — C6
AUT00M6F TOu naw* a million m
capita* and need to increase this, to
E25 m*ori in the ShOhesl lima
possiWe Inflation, str«kes sfuotfrsti
markets ara only Some of Ihe
najards. to overcome Runs on
ZXS1 16K - £5 and Spectrum
5p?t1rurn 4BK
SMUGGLER
SMUGGLER As master or a tStii
oenrury vessel you ptough between
England and the continent vrSili'iy
pons to Duy and sell yrv.ji oairxi
but beware the customs men ,
pirates and gate force winds can all
nun you aground Runs on
Spectrum 48K - £6
DALLAS Can ycxi amass enough
pelro dollars to lake over 1be F<.*nrj
empire Cut bhroal business and an
eye for 1he main chance 1 may get
you ln*f* but yOul need nerves of
steel to become Ihe oil king uf
Data* Runt on ZXBi 16K - £5
and Speclrum 16KMBK - C5
PRINT
SHOP
PLUNDER
PRINT SHOP In print shop are
scheduling, slatfmg, purchasino ftnd
quoting wittHn Irus lima limri wm test
your business acumen to ihe ful
and weekly balance sheets w*
prove 1he quality ol your de&SOh'
making Runes On ZXBT 16K — £5
and Spectrum 1SIV4&K E6
strategy games
PLUNDER Can you singe Ihe King
ol Spam's beard Engage the
Spanish ships on Ihe high seas,
survive lhe*r broadsides and
plunder the gold destined lor ibe
Armada and y<n. rniyht yiji yyu r
KmpjIUhood belore Francis Drake
Runs dti Spectrum 4-0 K £fj
GANGSTERS!
CC STRATEGY GAMES
GANGSTER ■ • you oold hearted
and callous fiiximjli in warrant the
title of Don You need to be if you
are to nse id me top ol the pie. A
qi.ic.lt trigger ■linger and an even
quicker brain are needed to control
the mobs and their rackets Runs
on Spectrum 4-BK £6
BRITISH
LOWLAND
STRATEGY GAMES
BRITISH LOWLAND You are given
a racing slarf lor yfju> small sports
car company but you have an
overdraft 1r> repay and a wotfcfor db Id
be kept happy Steer your wey to
success rtiln carclul managemenl
ami industnat relations Rung on
Sped rum 46K - €6
ABYSS Can you fpumey across to
long- for gotten Abyss and outwit the
evil monsters thai lurv m ihe Shadows
a*a*ng the tothardy and caretoN
Hekajrtm thm mm I mom
and many monsters WlR you be ana
one to make rrv- Abyss safe | 0 cross
aywri Runs on Spectrum 4&K — £5
BYTE Complete Ine ton circuits yoi
need to bu*f your computer sytien
men return home Easy Byte has
sent its electronic monsters to harry
you through ttrt three dimensional
maze of circutry, if any of them
calcb you Bur* on Spectrum
4fJK - £5
CAMELOT At Ihe banished Arthur
Pendragon you must find seven
treasures withoul Idling prey to Ihe
Brigands, Dragons and Evil
fvtarjoane that Stand m your way
and make a triumphant return to
Cametot 1o be c*o*ned King Runs
on ZX81 NW - E5 and Spectrum
Available from W H Smith, Boots, Rumbelows and all good computer shops or
Cases Computer Simulations Ltd., 14 Langton Way, London SE3 7TL.
€C
Strategy Gaines. They're no pushover
24
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
Hooked on the
worm game
I AM HOOKED. 1 have
been playing with the Worms
game for the last seven
months, at least six hours a
week.
I have finally conquered it.
Could I be a world record-
holder with a score of
260,850, completing stage
seven successfully?
Mark Appleby,
Camberlcy,
Surrey ■
Friendly
suggestion
I AM WRITING to say how
much I enjoy reading your
magazine. I buy it every
month to do the programs for
the Spectrum.
My friend made up a pro-
gram. I thought you might
like to try it. 10 PLOT 127,
88: DRAW 50, 50, 788. To
change the program you
change the last numbers.
My favourite game is the
Worms game on which I have
scored 150,765.
P Ax tell,
Nottingham.
Scoring on
all fronts
I THOUGHT 1 would tell
you my high scores on ZX
Scramble (Mikrogen) Mazogs
(Bug-Byte) Lunar Rescue
(Mikrogen) and Zuckman
(OSL), on the ZX-81.
ZX Scramble. 3660; Ma
zogs, 92 percent; Lunar Res-
cue, 15,280; Zuckman, round
the clock once plus 1,442, I
think that is 101,541.
Jonathan S Latter,
Cannock Wood,
Staffs.
Orb iter record
under attack
I HAVE a 48K Spectrum and
I have bought the Silversoft
Orbiter. I have achieved a
score of 244,050. I played [he
game for 45 minutes and t
had completed 14 attack
waves. Is it a record?
Michael Pascall,
Brentwood,
Kssex.
Cookie gets
high score
I HAVE scored on Cookie
51,825 and I reached level
11. I saw thai someone said
That rhey did nol like Cookie,
but 1 do. I think it is the best
game we have so far.
Matthew Garrett,
aged 8,
Bedford.
A routine
discovery
I AM WRITING about a
routine I discovered while ex-
perimenting with the POKE
statement on my 16K ZX-8L
The routine has the effect of
'slurring* the characters of
the T 81, allowing 'impossible*
graphics. As the routine is so
small I have not taped it. The
listing is:
10 POKE A,N
20 POKE A+i, 200
where A is the desired loca-
tion and N the character
code. An example would be:
10 POKE 16800,1
20 POKE 16801,200
That would give a vertical,
one-pixel wide, line near the
middle of the screen. The
routine will work only on the
I6K ZX-81.
D Read 9
Ashby de la Zouch,
Leicestershire.
Shortcomings
pointed out
I HAVE OWNED a ZX-81
for nearly two years and had
great success from the start.
In April, 1982 I heard about
Sinclair User and hurriedly
ordered my issue. You do a
marvellous job, as most of
your readers must agree, but
there are some points I would
like to make.
In the Attack program
p.72, October 1983 — you
stated it was for the 16K ZX-
81 but when has BORDER,
INK, PAPER, BRIGHT,
READ and DATA been
available on the ZX-81? I
know it is easy to make mis-
takes but please do not do it
again. After converting it to
work on the ZX-81 it worked
perfectly.
I can scarcely read some
parts of the program listings
made with your new printer.
Why not treat it to a new
ribbon?
About the early retirement
for Corner Man, I met him in
Oxford recently and he told
me that you made him redun-
dant. I beg you, give him
back his job.
Andrew Hewson should
have more pages and so
should that Forth siufF.
I have access to a Jupiter
Ace at school and I would
recommend Forth to anyone
who is interested in learning
different languages.
On the other hand, if I told
you all my compliments on
Sinclair User you would need
a whole issue for just my
letter.
Finally, if anyone is inter-
ested in having a pen friend
who has a ZX-81, 1 would be
more than delighted to swap
views, letters, tips and pro-
grams.
May Sinclair User live for
ever.
Michael Box well,
aged 13,
2 St Leonards ( lose,
Watlington,
Oxford.
Greed threatens
home micros
AS I ENJOY your magazine
and always buy it, I would
like to make the following
comments:
The home micro industry
at the moment has an unac-
ceptable face to it.
It is one gigantic rip-olTand
I am waiting for the first
magazine to expose it as such.
Most software is incredibly
poor in quality and not wor-
thy of any type of profession-
alism.
Shops are hell-bent on
creaming-oflfthe profits while
the going is good on this no-
refund, no-service product
market.
Please discontinue your
top ten as I suspect certain
stores have an interest in pro-
moting sales of particular cas-
settes.
Please continue with your
software review and listings.
How about an article on
software houses? I rate Mel-
bourne House highly.
Please, please save the
home micro industry before
it self-destructs in a welter of
greed.
B Plowman,
Matlock,
Derbyshire.
Man ItutTi on p*i#t 2G
SINCLAIR USER January MM
Letters
Disreputable
advertisement
I HAVE just bought my usu-
al copy of Sinclair User and I
am somewhat horrified to see
an advertisement which ap-
pears to be selling porno-
graphic programs. Apart
from producing such pro-
grams in the first place, I
think that such material
might well be left to find
more suitable outlets. Sec-
ond, whether the programs
are pornographic or not in
content, the inference of the
advertisement is that they
are, and there is no age warn-
ins. I think that there are
three point which should be
made:
Sinclair User is read by a very
large minor audience, my
daughters included, aged
eight and 12. I am sure that
there are many parents who
will be as keen as 1 am to keep
children away from such ma-
terial.
The lack of age limits indi-
cates that minors and adults
alike will be able to purchase
the programs which are, by
and large, well within the
'pocket-money* market. I
would question the legality of
this situation.
Do you not think that a maga-
zine of your reputation would
have been better keeping
away from material like that?
1 should have thought that if
anyone wants sex games they
would be better writing their
own or at least have to look
for such things in the adult
press.
Obviously I shall have to
switch to another magazine if
anything of a pornographic
nature is to appear again. Un-
fortunately, 1 have rec-
ommended Sinclair User to a
large number of people and I
hope that there will be no
repercussions over this latest
issue.
For my part, as a computer
consultant, I feel that any-
thing which brings comput-
ing into disrepute is harmful
to the industry as a whole.
We had enough trouble in the
'60s and early "70s with bad
salesmanship to last a Life-
time. Now these machines
are achieving their correct
place in society after all the
years of mystique, I am very
disappointed to see the adver-
tising of pornography which
cannot do the industry any
good.
I, and probably many
others, would like to know
your policy on this matter,
particularly your future poli-
cy.
G S Kin near,
Hartford,
Cheshire.
• We agree tvith your com-
ments and we published an
apology in our last issue. In the
rush of producing a magazine
some things can be overlooked
and unfortunately that is what
happened in this case. We took
immediate action to ensure
that it did not appear again
and ;r t: tall do our best to make
sure it does not happen again,
Cheap graph
paper sought
I OWN a 48K Spectrum.
The Print *n' Plotter jotter is
the only graph paper of
which I know that is the same
size as the Spectrum screen
i.e. 8x8 squares and
176x256 overall. At £9.95 it
is too expensive for me. Nor-
mal graph paper has 10x10
squares and is not suitable for
designing Hi-res screen lay-
outs.
Does anyone know where I
can obtain some suitable
graph paper at a reasonably
cheap price?
Here is a list of POKEs I
find useful when program-
ming:
POKF 23609,25 sets the
keyboard beep.
POKE 23658,8 - sets caps
lock on
POKE 23658,0 - re-sets
caps lock off
POKE 23662,1 - allows line
22 to be printed on.
POKE 23662,2 - re-sets line
22 to normal. Important —
line 22 must be re-set after it
has been printed on;
To print on line 23 use 10
PRINT # 0;" SINCLAIR
USER";GOTO 10.
Michael H organ*
Isleworth,
Middlesex.
Technological
retreat
CAN YOU remember when
the first calculators appeared?
Soon they were advanced and
had touch-sensitive key-
boards. The price of that type
of calculator was substantial-
ly higher than the normal.
When computers reached
the market they, too, had
'typewriter-style* keyboards.
One of those computers, the
ZX-81, had a touch-sensitive
type. You would expect, in
line with calculators, the
price of such a machine
would be substantially higher
than other computers but the
ZX-81 is the cheapest com-
puter on the market. Even
when people buy a ZX-81
they would eventually like to
buy an add-on keyboard.
What had once been the
best machine to own seems to
have changed through the
years to be the worst. It has
also happened in the short
term with computers. Origin-
ally computers were vast ma-
chines with many valves and
engineers tried continually to
reduce the size.
Now we seem to change
our views again. People buy
keyboards with large cases for
the Spectrum just to make
the computer look bigger and
more powerful. What we
have set out to reduce we now
wish to expand. Arc wc muni:
forwards or backwards in this
age of technology?
Marc Hawes,
Ely , Cambs.
Competition
unfair to readers
I HAVE decided not to re-
new my Sinclair User sub-
scription as I do not think
that you are treating all your
readers equally. For example,
the competition for the Mi-
crodrive is open only to the
more experienced.
The majority of Sinclair
owners as yet could not write
a program, far less do your
competition, so uniil you
have competitions all vout
readers can attempt I do not
think I should subscribe.
Robert McKinlay,
Blairgowrie,
Perthshire.
• We attempt to please as
many people as possible in
each issue. While the Micro-
drive competition was limited y
it attracted a good deal of inter-
est. Last month we had a com-
petition for users of all
machines.
Mm IrUfn on page 2S
26
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
BUC-BYT
SOFTUIR
The Birds end The Bees a an
aria hoi animated cartoon -
style game, introducing, for
the first time on screen, Boris
the Bee. Boris must collect as
much nectar as possible, whilst
avoiding various- nasties like
birds, wasps, centipedes and
Venus fly traps, Smooth, fast
machine- code action
throughout with sound effects,
joystick option (most types)
and speech option with the
Currah Microspeech Unit
Author: Adrian Sherwin with
graphics by Matthew Smith
(of Manic Miner Fame)
OTHER BEST SELLERS
FOR YOUR SPECTRUM
At
Bug- Byte limited
Mulberry House,
Conning Ptoce, Liverpool LI &JB
Dealers contact Matthew Thomas
on 051 709 7071
Ri'tj^rncft Dealer, trm oi (In
direct from C&S Distribution
on 01 960 2155
Businesslike
Spectrum
I WOULD like to say how
much I agree with G A
Rooker's letter — Sinclair
User, October — about seri-
ous use of the Spectrum. My
48K machine is in constant
use in my one-man design
business, I use Rooker's
Beamscan program and I
have written my own pro-
gram from which I can select
construction notes to be
print ed-out, to save me hours
of tedious handwriting on my
drawings.
I am heartily sick of the
way the business computer
world seems to ignore Sin-
clair computers and dismisses
them as mere games ma-
chines. There is even a regu-
lar computer column in my
local paper in which the writ*
er often makes veiled 'anti-
comments' abouL Sinclairs.
The more I learn about the
capabilities of the Spectrum,
the more I am convinced that
there is much left to explore,
and I am absolutely con-
vinced that it is not necessary
for the small business to con-
template the expenditure of
more than £2,000 to install a
computer system.
1 agree with Rooker that
Sir Qive should concentrate
on the development of the
Spectrum business image be-
fore pushing ahead with his
projected business computer.
R C Crane,
Burton-on'Trent,
Staffs.
Missing colour
mystery
MY PARENTS bought me a
ZX-81 in August, 1982 and
since then I have been an avid
reader of Sinclair User,
I am now the owner of a
48K Spectrum Mark II
which my parents bought in
July. We have tw T o television
sets, a Pye 22in. colour set
and a 14in. portable Contec
less than two years old. I
cannot get colour from the
Contec set; all pictures ap-
pear in black and white and
no amount of tuning will
help, I discovered this only
last week as the Contec stays
in Kent during the summer
months.
Could any of your readers
tell me why my Contec col*
our television is incompatible
with my Spectrum?
Nicholas Fuller,
aged 14,
London EC1*
Integrating
machine code
SOME READERS may con-
sider this as egg-sucking ad-
vice but others, like me 3 may
have found difficulty in inte-
grating machine code rou-
tines with Basic programs. I
have found the following pro-
cedure effect ive with the
Spectrum:
SAVE Basic program and
machine code separately —
"mainprog" and "machine-
codefile".
Type an initiating program
like this — call it "ink": 10
CLEAR n: LOAD "machin-
ecodefile" CODE 20 LOAD
"mainprog"
SAVE "ink" line 10 on
main tape. Remove tape but
do not wind back.
NEW and put "machine-
codefile" into cassette record-
er. Type CLEAR n: LOAD
"machinecodefiie 1 " CODE:
RETURN.
Replace main tape and
SAVE "machinecodefile"
CODE n,n.
Remove tape: put in Basic
program ("rnainprog"):
LOAD "mainprog" - NEW
First.
Remove and put in main
tape. SAVE "mainprog"
LINE n.
To run it, type NEW>
wind back and LOAD " "
The main tape then con-
tains the Basic and machine-
code programs and thereafter
can be loaded in 1; it is also
self-running.
One assumes USR lines in
the Basic program to enable
the machine code routines.
Once Microdrive is generally
available, perhaps we can for-
get this hassle.
David Bye,
Saffron Walden,
Essex.
Family tree
program
MY SON tells me he has seen
an advertisement for a pro-
gram to make a Family Tree.
We cannot find it in any of
our copies of Sinclair User
\\.vA I wonder if anyone can
lei us know if such a program
exists for the Spectrum 48K.
Dilys Mel my re,
Camberley,
Surrey*
Display errors
corrected
THANK YOU for publish-
ing my article on display in
the November issue of Sin-
clair User, Unfortunately
there were two errors in one
of the lines of diagram three.
Line 370 was printed as
LET A$ = ( ( V* + A$ AND AS
(1 TO 2)="00") + AS AND
AS = (2 TO)
AND AS (lTO2)="0/')
John Arm Held,
Bridgwater,
Somerset.
Churning out
the aliens
WHEN I BOUGHT a Spec-
trum 48K a few weeks ago I
thought the standard of
games for it would be fairly
good but nine games out of
every 10 available in the
shops are childish tripe along
the space invaders lines.
I am 35 and want some-
thing to tax my intelligence.
The cliche games such as
chess and backgammon fulfil
this slightly but there is tre-
mendous scope for program-
mers to turn their skill to
producing new games. 1 ac-
cuse them of taking the easy
way and churning out aliens
after aliens after aliens.
What do I think of games
software in general? To bor-
row the title of a program
printed in the September is-
sue, Rubbish!
Mike (rod win,
Leicester.
Help needed for
software search
l THINK your Software Di-
rectory is an excellent idea,
with the profusion of pro-
grams flooding the market
but I think the potential user
will be looking for a program
for a particular purpose and if
you were to catalogue the ti-
tles alphabetically, section by
section, it would be much
quicker to locate the kind of
thing one is seeking.
I would like to ask you if
you know of a program to
enable me to get a cutting
list, costing and list of materi-
als from a design of a cabinet
after the variables are en-
tered. I know of some avail-
able in the States for the
purpose but 1 should imagine
someone has produced some-
thing here by now, or there
may be a Spectrum graphics
program which could be
modified for this purpose.
G H Anderson ,
Bourtoit,
Dorset.
• We take your point and are
looking at the possibility of re-
arranging the list. We do not
know of a program of the type
you describe but perhaps read-
ers can help.
28
iJINO-AIR USER January 1984
Visions {Software Factory) Limited software is available horn Boots Centra Soft Currys (selected stores' Feiranti and Davenport Greens Laskys
Lightning dealers Makro Menzies Prism dea lets Record Fay re Humbelows Soitwjie Cirv Spectrum dealers SupaSnapS (selected stores) Teseo
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
Communications taken
out of the cradle
MICROMYTE has pro-
duced a communications sys-
tem 10 use on a home
telephone which will allow
you to SAVE and LOAD pro-
grams to another ZX-81 or
Spectrum user at 600 baud.
The system consists of a cra-
dle for the normal standard
telephone, which has an am-
plifier and filter in it- The
power pack is plugged into it
and then a lead taken from
the alternate power socket to
the computer.
If you have a Spectrum the
alternate power socket is a
jack plug; if you have a ZX*
81 the alternate socket is a
Spectrum -type barrel socket.
A lead with both kinds of
plugs is provided.
A cassette is supplied with
the software which does all
the work. You must first
LOAD it into the computer.
The program first lowers
RAMTOP - on the Spec-
trum by 1,535 bytes — and
then loads the machine code
program above it. Separate
programs are provided For
16K and 48K machines. The
program can be called at any
time during a running pro-
gram or from the keyboard by
using RAND USER 64000
on a 48 K. Spectrum.
The bottom line is taken
over for messages once the
machine code routine is en-
tered and (T) transmit or (R)
receive appears on the screen.
Pressing (R) will start the
LOADing routine immedi-
ately. That routine waits for a
"header" from the EAR
socket before starling.
If T is selected, you are
asked whether you want to
SAVE a program (1), varia-
bles (2) or a the current
screen (3). Pressing the ap-
propriate number leads to a
message Press Key to trans-
mit. That should not be done
More power to
extra keyboards
A SIMPLE device is avail-
able which allows you to use
the ZX-81 or Spectrum +9
volt power supply to power
other equipment while you
are not using your computer.
Two versions are available,
one as a standard +5 volt
regulated power supply and
the other adjustable from +9
volts to +5 volts. Two screw
terminals are provided for the
output to your circuits.
It can be used to supply
more power to any extra
boards on a motherboard sys-
tem if you have two power
supplies. Versions are avail-
able for ZX-81 and Spec-
trum, the only difference
being the input power socket.
The unit is in a small,
black plastic box 24 x H x
lin. and has an LED on top
to indicate power on. The
cost is £6.95 for the non-
adjustable version and £7.95
for the variable version. Cen-
tec Electronic Systems is at
47 Spur Road, Orpington,
Kent BR6 0QR. Tel: 0689-
35353.
until a few things have been
checked.
The cassette lead then con-
nects the EAR and Signal IN
socket on cradle. The person
at the other end has set up the
program to receive and done
the same thing. Both yours
and the other person's hand-
sets have been strapped on to
the cradles using the Velcro
strap provided. Anyone else
in the room has to be warned
that quiet is required or the
data might be corrupted by
noise in the room.
Once those have been
checked you can press any
key. The speaker beneath the
mouthpiece of the telephone
— the end with the label —
tends to emit a certain
amount of noise. That is am-
plified Spectrum noise and
should be ignored. It will,
however, identify which way
up the telephone handset
should be. The sound the
transmission makes is rather
like a Spectrum program —
first a short header, then a
long series of data, both ac-
companied by the flashing
bands on the border.
Saving a Basic program
seems to work well, as does a
screen file, but DATA tends
to be corrupted and warning
messages of BAD DATA and
WARNING flashing in red
on the bottom line appear.
The program allows you to
try again by sending the pro-
gram again without touching
the keyboard. Breaking the
system on the receiving side
may crash the system.
The best way to send varia-
bles would seem to be to send
the complete program, varia-
bles and all. The DATA sav-
ing also appears to take much
longer than necessary, as it
still appears to take a minute
or so to send even the shor-
test single string. There is no
way at present to send CODE
except as string variable. The
variables used by the pro-
gram are listed in a table at
the back of the detailed
instructions, The only ones
which may be of use to the
programmer are two bytes
which set the colours for the
flashing border and four
bytes which set the start and
end of the data sent.
They may be POKEd but
there is no indication as to
how to use them without go-
ing through the Program/
Data screen routine which
presumably will re-sei them.
The cradle is not a true
modem and so will not allow
you to talk to any other user
not using the same system.
ZX-81 and Spectrum ver-
sions are not yet compatible,
either. It is, however, a cheap
and useful way of sending
programs down the line and
since the variables are sent
automatically, interactive
games can be used.
Sending from within a pro-
gram means that when
LOADed successfully the
program will auto-run from
the next line of the program.
The system can also be put
together without connections
other than to the EAR socket
and with no knowledge of
modems.
Telephone time, however,
is expensive and the system is
still affected by noise from its
surroundings and from the
telephone line. If you have a
constantly noisy line, it is not
the system for you.
The system will work with
model three Spectrum and
Interface One. The code is ail
that is required and that can
easily be SAVEd and LOAD-
ed from Microdrive.
Micro-Mytc 60 costs
£39.60 from Micro-Myte
Communications, Polo House,
27 Prince Street, Bristol L,
Tel: 0272-299373.
|0
SINCLAIR USER January i%4
1
Hardware World
Card system is ideal for
serious work on Spectrum
U - MICROCOMPUTERS,
an Apple card manufacturer,
has decided to do the same
thing for the Spectrum. One
of the things for which the
Apple computer is famous is
the internal motherboard-
type slots, which allow you to
plug-in things tike RS232s,
parallel ports and disc drives.
All are on separate cards,
which need only to be
plugged into the system.
They are also expensive and
some have to be put in par-
ticular slots.
The same kind of system
has been adopted by U -Micro
on its Spectrum range. There
is a three-slot motherboard
which is completely buffered
to reduce the load on the
Spectrum. An extension is
also offered which wiJl ex-
tend it up to seven. That,
however, must be supplied
by separate power supply
using a standard — non-stan-
dard to Sinclair users —
multi-way plug. The power
supply must also supply + 12
volts, +9 volts and -12 volts
for things like RS232s.
There are, however, ad-
vantages. One is that a spare
unbuffered printed circuit
board edge on the right-hand
side of the board is provided;
all edge connectors and cards
are gold-plated as a matter of
course. That can take the In-
terface One happily and
would solve a problem for
users whose Spectrum is in a
case.
The other advantages are
complete Spectrum bus com-
patability, unlike some other
systems, and an alternative
decoding system for I/O de-
vices which will allow seven
boards to be added to one
system without clashes.
That is because the moth-
erboard provides for each
edge connector, or slot, to
have a different chip-select
signal on edge connector po-
sition 4A.
That is derived from the
top three address lines A7-
A5. Internal addresses on
each card by U-Micro use the
upper three address lines A8-
A10.
All that, of course, in-
creases the cost, but U-Alkro
also compensates for that by
detailing in a glossy booklet
all the information you want
to know about the card you
have bought. The booklet
contains not only details on
how to set up and use the
card but also a circuit dia-
gram and specifications of the
major chip used.
Listings are also given of
any software included in the
package. Unfortunately it
also includes some mistakes
which, although minor, tend
to take some gloss from the
product. Also for some un-
known reason all the booklets
have identical covers; it is
only when you open them
that you can tell which is
which.
For serious work using a
Spectrum the board is ideal;
it relieves the Spectrum of
power supply problems and
loading of the edge connector
by too many devices. It also
allows you more cards than
any other systems which are
compatible with Sinclair
equipment.
The only problem is that
the ideal solution is not inex-
pensive. An adaptor is re-
quired to fit the Spectrum
and motherboard printed cir-
cuit board edges together
costs £6.90, three-slot back-
plane £35,65, four-slot exten-
sion — if required — £25.30.
A power supply was not
available at the time of writ-
ing but a £70 alternative was
supplied. The Spectrum one
should be half the price, U-
Micro says. There should be
an additional £1.50 for post-
age and packing.
Cards available from U-
Micro are dual RS232, dual
parallel ports — with a Cen-
tronics kit as an extra — and a
prototyping card. Other pro-
ducers' Spectrum cards can
also be used but may restrict
the use of addresses.
All equipment has a 12-
month guarantee and can be
obtained from U-Microcom-
puters Ltd, Winstanley In-
dustrial Estate, Long Lane,
Warrington, Cheshire WA2
8PR. Tel: 0925-54117.
Atort kordtairf oh p^tgt 33
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
f
\
1't
Pat the Postman
Realty original- All Pat
h as to do is collect
parcels whilst
avoiding obstacles -
like cars, fires, trains,
etc, Skill level a net
Hafl of Fame.
m Spectrum « 95
Deffendar
Earth is under attack
from mutant aliens in
an accurate
Implementation of a
top arcade game -
and one of the most
difficult to survive in I
tfKSeectnim tB.SS
Cruise Attack
Save the city from
annihilation in this
wonderful version of
an arcade favourite.
Mine skill levels,
bonus points for
attack ships-
Nanas
Catch the bananas,
miss the coconuts,
Easy? Try it and see.
Simple in concept,
hilariously
entertaining - it'll
drive you bananas,
1GR Spectrum- t5.B5
Timequest
A warp- space
accident spreads
your capsule across
time. As you land in
each new era, fresh
perils face you. Avery
skillful graphic
adventure
48 K Spectrtm EOS
Star Trek
Defend the star
systems against the
Klingon attack. Runs
in real time- so you
have to make the
right decisions fasti
4IK latrine; it ft
Drakmaze
F ind your way round
Draeulas domain.
A gam e to get you r
teeth into!
41 1 Spectrum. £6.95
Laser warp
Invaders, Aliens, this
game has the lot -and
you have to survive to
destroy the Master!
Simple controls, far
from simple task,
4*K Spectrum £6.95
Knockout
No aliens, lasers,
invaders or rockets -
just simple but
a bsofbi n g f u n wh ich
up to 4 players can
enjoy.
48 R Sputrm 16,95
Galakzions
Watch out as the
Galakzions break
formation to attack in
such force that no
mere human can
survive!
UK SpKtnin £5115
See them at
Lightning, PCS,
T*#er, Co-op ,
Menzies, W H Smith
6 other leading
retailers
PHONE YOUR VISA
OR ACCESS
NUMBER
Other great new Mikro-Gen programs coming soon- watch out for them I
Please make cheques/PQ payable to 'Mikro-Gen' and add 40p post & packing per order.
Mikro-Gen, 1 Devonshire Cottages, London Rd r Bracknell RG12 2TQ Tel: 0344 27317
SINCLAIR USER January t«4
Hardware World
"I
D/A converters
incompatible
with Microdrive
EPROM SERVICES has
produced two digital -to-an a-
logue converters for the ZX-
81 and Spectrum. They allow
you to program an our put
voltage up to +9 volts by
outputting a number from
the computer. One of them is
an independent unit which
has three A/D converters and
requires no extra port to use
it. It is a bare board and an
edge connector must be sol-
dered on if you are not using
a motherboard. The unit is
incompatible with the Inter-
face One, which controls the
Microdrive, as both use the
same address lino A 4
The three outputs appear
on screw terminals at the top
of the board and there are
ihree sets of variable resistors
to adjust the zero volts and
the maximum volts setting.
Each output is controlled
by an A/D converter chip so
that all the programmer has
to do is OUT a number to set
up the system — the port
used is based on a 8255 chip
— select the output required
and output the number for
the voltage required.
The device is one of the
few which will allow you to
obtain more than 2.55 volts
DC. The devices can be very
useful for measuring where a
standard voltage is input and
the output is measured by a
D/A converter for the device
reaction, transistor testing
and resistance measurements.
The other D/A is very
similar but will fit only on to
the Mk I version of the com-
pany's I/O port.
Hoih work well but are in-
compatible with other de-
vices you may want to use on
the system.
The three-output D/A
board costs £27 and the
single output one for use with
a Mkl port only £10.
Eprom Services is at 3
Wedgewood Drive, Leeds
US8 1EF. Tel: 0532-667183.
Useful keyboard spoiled
by poor design
DKTRONICS new key-
board for the Spectrum pro-
vides an ABS plastic case
which contains the computer
as well as providing a 40-key
keyboard and a numeric pad.
The keyboard keys are a dull
grey with clear plastic* stick-
on transfers. The numeric
keypad is numbered from 9
down to 0, at the bottom, in a
3 by 4 high matrix, the other
two keys being CAPS SHIFT
and SYMBOL SHIFT.
Those being next to each
other means that a single
finger can be used to get into
"E s * mode.
The tops are dished and
have a solid feel to them,
even if they are noisy to use.
The plastic transfers, how*
ever, tend to wear out after
long use. The shift keys are
usually the first to sufTer.
Also red symbols on grey
keys do not show very
clearly, as Sinclair soon dis-
covered.
The computer is easy
enough to fit inside the case;
you unscrew the case and re-
move the printed circuit
board, re-screwing it on some
pillars inside the case using
the same screws. The key-
board connectors are two
plugs which go into the key-
board sockets very easily.
An area with posts is set
aside for the power-pack
board, which also must be
removed from its case. The
instructions then say a bolt or
two must be used to hold it in
place. No bolts or holes in the
<usc arc provided and no sate
position on the printed cir-
cuit board exists for bolts.
Either the company should
drop that as a facility or pro-
vide some better method of
securing the power supply
before someone does some
damage.
There is a simple solution.
Four upright projections are
moulded into the case which
go through holes in the print-
ed circuit board, if several
turns of insulating tape are
wound over those poles — the
number of turns can be found
by experiment — when the
power supply is pushed down
over the poles the insulating
tape compresses into tight
washers above and below the
board, holding it into posi-
i inn.
All the wiring should be
kept neat and away from the
computer board, though the
+ 9 volt plug will have to be
taken outside the case to plug
into the socket on the com-
puter. Holes are provided in
the back for the TV socket,
tape sockets, power socket
and expansion connector.
One problem with the last
item is that some add-ons will
not fit, due to the slope on
the back of the keyboard case.
That means that some items
which plugged into the edge
connector have their cases
stopped about |in. away from
where they should be, by the
edge of the case.
That means that the edge
connector does not connect
with the device. It should be
corrected immediately. It can
be solved by cutting away the
projection under the expan-
sion port for at least the
whole length of the edge con-
nector, Microdrives and In-
terface One cannot be
connected to a Spectrum in
this type of case without a
massive cutting-out of the
back of the case.
It is a pity that the key-
board and case is spoiled by
moderate design. A little
more thought about adding
things to the Spectrum would
have made a much better
product.
D'KTronics is at Unit 2,
Shire Hill Industrial Estate,
Saffron Waldron, Essex
CB11 3 AX. Tel: 0799-23650/
22359, The cost of the key-
board is i".46.25.
Timely for experiments
G LAN MIRE Electronics of
the Republic of Ireland has
produced a real-time clock
and eight-bit MO port for the
Spectrum or ZX-8L The cry-
stal-controlled clock is bat-
tery-driven and is re-charged
when connected to the com-
puter power supply — a
maximum of 40ma according
to the booklet.
It is set to compensate for
various months but not leap
years. It can be adjusted by a
screwdriver control on the
board to go faster or slower.
A 256-byte PROM mounted
on the board provides the
software to read and write to
the clock from within Basic
and the time is returned in a
Basic variable called T$
It provides a good basis for
experimenting but at a cost.
It is also incompatible with
most other I/O equipment for
the Spectrum, as it uses all
the spare addresses. The
board provides a full ZX-81-
type extension at the back for
a RAM pack. It mighi be
useful with some applications
which require an accurate, in-
dependent clock as part of
rime - keeping systems, such as
accounts control or data log-
ging.
From Glanmire Elec-
tronics Ltd, Mccnane, Wa-
tergrasshill, Co. Cork,
Ireland, the clock and I/O
ports costs £40 for the Spec-
trum version and for the ZX-
81 version £36. They are not
interchangeable.
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
j SOFTWARE-
THE PYRAMID is an arcade style game which has a very adventurous feel to it.
The Pyramid contains 120 chambers on 15 levels. In order to get from one chamber to another
you must fight off the indigenous aliens to collect an energised crystal which will neutralize the
force field guarding the two exits. W
The Pyramid is inhabited by a total of 60 wrerd and exotic alien types, all of which are
beautifully animated. You will meet a whole variety of demons, droids, insects and monsters, with a
sprinkling of the more unusual, the extra-terrestrial tweezers, galactic strawberry cosmic claw,
mutant eye r plus a whole host of entities that defy rational description. You will no doubt invent
your own nicknames. w
You proceed to explore the Pyramid from top to bottom with the difficulty generally
increasing with the depth of level. Depending on the choice of exit from each chamber vou ar
to have a different game every time you play.
Apart from the challenge of trying few
achieve the highest score possible the
pyramid contains a number puzzle to
solve. The more chambers you
successfully visit the more information
is gathered to enable you to discover
the secret numbers of the pyramid.
The puzzle won't take you a
few days to solve, it will
probably take you a
few months.
FANTASY SOFTWARE
is available from W.H.Smiths
John Menzies and
Computers For All
This Is ZIGGY . He ts shown
above in his exploratory capsule
and is a true representation of
the on screen graphics. You
have total control over hi
movements as you explore
the many chambers of
THE PYRAMID
Compatible with all leading joysticks.
For 48K
Spectrum
THE PYRAMID is available at 1530 from
FANTASY SOFTWARE, FAUCONBERG LODGE 27A ST GEORGES ROAD, CHELTENHAM, GIOS GL50 3DT
despatched by return first class post together with a membership number entitling you to discount
on our forthcoming blockbusting software
Trade Enquiries welcome - telephone 0242-583661
"BY FAR AND AWAY THE BEST MAIL
ORDER FIRM FOR SOFTWARE"
(M. PANKHURST. CRANLEIGH)
SOFTWARE SUPERMARKET
At Software Supermarket, we pJay all the piogiams we can find (or the Spectrum (and the BBC micio) and put just the best of each type into <mr ads and
catalogues We don't nave the biggest list ol Spectrum programs, just the best • from many different program companies, large and small, famous and just-abom-
to-be-famous We produce no programs ourselves, so our choice is completely impartial
We quote reviews from all the magazines to help you decide and, of course, we tell you if your joystick will work' AD games work with keyboard cootroL
Wa dioose the best - which saves you money And we send them fast • which saves you time hunting round the shops From over 40 countries you write praising our
same-day sesratch But mail order or phone credit card orders only piease
You. an now pfaon* VISA or ACCESS cndit can! ord«« to ut at any time, from anywber* to the world.
48K SPECTRUM ONLY
VALHALLA
' W different locations and 36 characters ali of whom
have different personalties Valhalla isn : like anything
fte' (PopCornpWkly; Valhalla is the only adventure where you can witch the animated
diatacuK play out the story Join in if you warn 1 Six adventures in one print out graphics and
tew it can ever, cope with vour spelling Spellbinding sute-of-the-art adventure No joysticks
CHUCKIE EGG
'Destined lo become an ati-ume Spectrum
classic, thegraphscs aiebtiiliant and thesound
a&KeS&v\ J PopCompWtdy) Great, loony game Run your farmyard, cofeci 12 eggs, watch
out for U)£ rjsues and the crazy duck Up to 4 players choose your own Jteys no|oysticks
Hainan Hall of Fame <A 5c F) C6 90
A KPT 1 ATT Af*V Exaiin 9^ :nlIiav]na impresses cturflv
AA1 At M *»wJ» because oiix graphics and 3D. which are truly
admirable' (YrCorsp) The most amazing 3D animation we ve seen lately, with rave reviews all
round The 3D sso involving its being patented 12 command keys and a game to impress your
Inends a you defeat ihe City of the Ants No joysticks iQutckafru] £6 96
ft n f\W TAllA Find the Hidden Star ar.d win a trip tn Hollywood 1 A mad
y[|y %J vllv adventure with lots ol good tunes and some very $cod
cajtoon-type animation Follow Groucho and the Piman around the U S A Discover the 22
dues - and name the Hidden Star and you win the trip 1 (Entries dose ].'&'84 !• A brillian:
fallow uptoPimama using every hit ol the 48K FREE hit single on flip side may contain dues.
wo 1 Nc joysticks [Automats) CIO
UAtTff 1 IfflWD 'Certainly the tern arcade game around tot
MANlw HUHlLIi die Spectrum ' {to&ompWf) Will probably
be metitheMo I Spectrum game this year " (HomeComp Wklyl Based on the USA arcade chart
coppo Miner 2M9er' Superb graphics and sound as you search through 20 screens - each one
adJflerent arcade game 20 screen demo mode JCEMPSTON |oysucks iBug-Byte)C595
HALLS OF THE THINGS THE game ol 83
hours and hows of sheer pleasure " (2X Compl 'Uses 99% of the available RAM one of the best
games we ve seen for a kmg lime " (Which Micro V Explore an B-stotey maze, (ind treasures,
avoid saraes BUT this time you can see exacdy where you are and what you're doing as the
maze serais as tast as you can move Brilliant giaplucs (try waving your sword about 1 1 and 19
command *eys No joysticks {Crystal) C? 50
rnfftri UAPPIT 'Supcnoi to any othet adventure game available
M fid IlvDDi * ,'i'r Compl Jakes first place for quality and value for
money '(S the.! The adventure that made 1983 famous 1 Free 285-page illustrated book with
dues to this uiutTiie real ume adventure 80 locations 30 beautiful full-screen pictures
500-word vocab 16- page manual 40K of program tcok 4 people 18 months to write' No
joysticks {Mebouine)£]4 95
UU 1U J AIL display indeed highly teenmmenaed "{ZXCompsTh*
best computer version of the famous ■game we've ever seen From Z to & piayers I including the
Spectrum at last 1 It's ruthless, but honest ) Every original feature is laithfully reproduced and the
screen display is miraculous No joysticks (Automata) C6 00
|»AM f% The mightiest Spectrum Kong ol all 1 Full 1-screen machme-oode
Mm W W U program - just like the arcades Jump the roiling barrels, and the fireballs
Avosd the flying dumb- bells catch a moving lift Smash things with your hammer to score mote
Demo mode training mode for each screen bonus objects Hall of Fame and a pretty girl
during 'HELP 1 ' XEMPSTGN. QU1CKSHQT. PROTEK Joysticks. (Ocean) £5 90
'Excellent graphics adventure*
iS User/ of program loads from 1
cassems id G chapters Sotoe each of the 6 stages to defeat the Lords of Chaos Heal -time
manstfli battles [6 command Keys Dl-jflraaed manuai No ,<rysticks (Carroll) £7 50
'Zippy will amaze you SPLA V could well become another classic"
iPersConipGames} Guide Zippy through rapidly scroikng, m aiea.
explore, survive, eat grass- and don't get splatted 1 IWHI-BCOMCOMPETtT10*l, Find
da Codewords dmsWiW 7 levels JOYST1X Kempswn. AGF. (Incentive} E5 50
BLACK CRYSTAL
SPLAT!
ANY SPECTRUM
niHTHlTV This program has everything superb presentation.
If ElElElHlA graphics ami sound Highly t&titnmended "
(HomsCompWkly) A full Bica4e-act»n 5 screens in the best ever Spectrum 'Phoenix 5 skill
levess Choice ol character sets Demo mode Crams 48K quality mto 16K JCEMPSTON. AGF
joysticks (Megadodo^ C5 50.
miiri rnn a tu a lLKt? ^ Am - / ™ 10 bve
1I1L 1 linill UHlVUl ^sWHMieCompWklyWwyQQl
own Railway! Change the points to avoid crashes watch out for hi-iackmgs by irate
passengers FuU-scteen graphics 30 command keys two track layouts 7 bJuU levels t4
sub-leveis 1 Demo mode and Pause while you strike Very catching hobby* No joysticks
I Microsphere l £5 95
FDHPPV *n» game is superb' (ZX Camp) 'Unreservedly leeommended
JT A \J UU X a stunning display ' {HomeComp Wkly) This bogojer is leaps
ahead ol the rest 1 Loads m 1 parts mstrucuons and keyboard demo brst then the game - which
•uses so much memory you even have to unplug your printer 1 A classic game m its very best
form-JOYSnX Kempston Quw:kshot(DJL|E595
M mj wp A mm Talte yom Bed Racer !M-scteen graphics.! all over the
1. KAIl U HlVl USA avoid the deadly Black Turbos and collect the
Gold Cups Playing area is 600 times your screen size 1 Real-time dock, accurate speeds,
controlled acceleration, amazing night -driver phase Kempston QuicJtshat, Tnga joysticks
OK (Ultimate) CS.50
CALL 01-789 8546 (24 hours)
CHARGE PROGRAMS TO VISA OR ACCESS
FREE ZXB1/BBC 32K CATALOGUES, TOO!
To:
SW15HIU
If you do not want to cut this magazine, write your order out carefully on plain paper
and quote this number SU14
I own a K computer which is a SPECTBUM.'BBC 1 enclose a chaque.'PO made
payable to Software Supetmarket OR Charge my VISA/ACCESS/UTROCARD/
MASTERCARD numher
Signature
Please write deady 11 we can r read it you won t get Lt
Name
Postcode
Phone, if any in case al query
COMPUTE?
mxtoM NAME
Price
L
i
i
POSTAGE
UK Ad455ptmjy pci ordei
AND
ELK DPE Add bbp lor eich prwj: tin
:
PACKING
OUTSIDE EtmOPE Add t \ !&t **rti prog* «n MIMi
:
OuTSLDE tirPuPE ADD £1 TO TOTAL Tn T A I
f:jf r£^!?tered mail iUiAL
L
| KJp. Hkijia i bKr.LI MAIL '
I
L
I I
I I
J L
I I
I I
J L
I
J
THE TRICKSTICK
A REVOLUTION THAT RUN
AROUND ORDINARY JOY
i
m wmm
I
TRICKSTICK TURH5Y0UR 5PECTRUM INTO THE MOST SOPHISTICATED
GAME5 MAChiriE IN THE WORLD
Why is Trickstick superior to all other joystick systems?
PROPORTIOMAL: A brilliant innovation in the circuitry of the inter-
face gives proportional control (ie varying speeds and rates of turn)
even with many n on- proportional games. The design tears up the text-
books on conventional analogue to digital conversion and brings you
unprecedented control and versatility
ONE TO EIGHT PLAYER5: Innovative design also enables you to put
up to eight Trickstlcks on a single Spectrum. Each Trickstick comes with
Its own interface and the interfaces simply plug into each other So ^ames
playing need no longer be a solitary occupation, and the hids won't have
to fight for their turn any more.
" SOfTWARE COMPATIBLE: Trichstick is compatible with any soft-
ware which will work with the old-fashioned Kempston joystick
PROGRAMMABLE: A low cost adaptor performs the technically
simple job of making the Trickstick programmable, and compatible with
AnY software.
MO MOViMG PART 5: Small plastic-coated metal pads on the Trickstick
detect how hard you are pressing by picking up electrical radiation from
your fingers. This is then amplified and fed into the interface. So there
are no moving parts at all;-not even the fire buttons. This arrangement
was proved in competitive trials to give the greatest control and
potential for spectacular skill
And this makes Trickstick the only games system which does not
wear out with heavy use!
ATTAKTIC5: Trickstick gives new life to your existing software.
Attaktics takes you and your Trickstick to new dimensions where skill and
strategy are as important as the fast reactions of the very young. The game
is very, very efficiently written in machine code and allows you to move
in 64 different directions on the screen, giving perfectly smooth curves.
Combine this with your new-found control of speed and rate of turn, and
imagine aerial combat against your Spectrum or against other Trickstick
owners!
USE THE COUPON OR THE PHOhE: Trickstick and Attaktics are in
stock and available now. Trickstick including interface is f 28 Attaktics is
f 7.50 if ordered with a Trickstick and f 10 on its own. The Programmable
Adaptor is £10 for Trickstick owners and £ IS for others. The Training Tape
is free with each Trickstick Or call us for the name of your local stockist
P|easG5eno meT-
I I TricKstK:k(s) with training cassette at £28 each f .
(with each Trickstich) or f 10 (on its own) £ C
lAttaKtlcsatf750
] Programmable adaptors) at
f 10 (for Trickstick owners) or f IS (for others) f
f made payabte to East London Robotics Ltd.
My Access
Visa
Postage 65p I enclose Cheque/FO. For
EE
ADDKES5
12
Pleas* send Ea East Lundao Robotics Ltd . date 11. Roya» Albert Dock. London
C1G. ?1 Mdl* informaliWi service 01-371 WQB 24 Itour Actr*WJrM order**!
01-474 471"j Spt^idi enquiries 01-473 ftfliO ("Wen &8I527I) Same day
despatch to phoned Access o* V»sa orders
EAST LONDON
mil n:s
Printer interface
Uord-Processing
© MELBOURNE HOUSE (Publishers)
*f ■ ■ ... P ■ ., ■ '--I : . • I" . MldillHl I — !
K'fv 1 M I EPS
h t- | I J I • I- ■
khhf ■ MA*tfri TAIL i KTPO: rf ""'Wr ILiti
fr',-*, c. p. i
f r*rj*H r -flo :
*h!nw* cp*?**!
ST**, DEL r * 1":
cr*m ..iH-tii ion:
♦tap* amiHt twi
D**
NEC 9-57 1 I
jMcj tiDP:
**OTHE» H»»15:
Of I H I Z*VL THE BC!
J flUTWCH [P-7 SJ-ft:
I?T»»VA" ♦ I - (I"
(J TH-Vftl ■ I ■ * ar r .
(2*4. V M t|i cur,
[!«(rtit[i ci",
£ TV' i/*T ^£ > [jr. .
tJr»**V*T*£"* C*tr.
f 3»»»V*l»i 1 [«r,
H41tV*T-| | 0 ciri
r»t<VAl 'I ■ L.rr .
tl?**V*i ■■ " e d r " •
PI**** Itfll 3AE H>r 4»tll 11 <] »*l»fjL» BF I n.t {?,. I I
rt»#r4. da ivii Iikii 111 < *n-d t«i h j»r r 1 >"«■
iiri F&arlrdl with ip. nlvnl , mrw L<t*plllbl* with auf
r» SqMuvi and hi LI p>-jiln: » Du«L>* l« t lint.
> SE r>=.HA [>P | tM>,
OP?™ *r r) Jlin tuppor !*1
Hirwi'^Am 1AIL ■ HTfJO -Pi intpr.
xm«ii prm: lW3.tt iHt 1 1 Av_EE_L££ i *? 3 * O j m
PPfTiHfpi H»»L5 D* l* f Vh»t I printpr .
b*lL HI. Pi
Printers
Graphi cs
H R I hi T E R I N T E R F ACE
IWUPfWE AH i f.AKft^Lti Wh jtuiftL FRITH BE*. Tu >LTt* tWCFBurl
Cmpil ifci 1 LI h F»lt« Sl+dCL*IP'5 [KiTFP'ACr I fi<4 K I l' r vf «
Th< initutti ■ tt>nd>r J ptUPt * PERIPHERALS C*r>t»BiilCI'*llJI
rnltr ■■[> «t I I I ml t h ■* -li-<F/-*n«r PFIC* MI,IB <«[lull<<f
t ib L w , dr l v*' »-) t»MT »ftd DtS, E«n bf pl..>rj»d in «l I h ■ mi i
Q* thf 5PCCTOI.IM rjr |M f f*« t 1- »"* P'twlW and LLIU
Par I I I ' (#■». InF ANY llindiril pr inl w m II w*l I unfit ana.
dDubli lift iCHEN fJLPHP + D-F a Fnj*b*r 0+ Hl«t*lF D'|M;»f» '■-,»»
I l«t I
Tt)» — OPI • |Fi|fF Iput ha* t-»»', MlLDiid Ei f tkilturt a-"fl
pi ntMiLDMli iliVl IniuU il IhhiFILH IK# PjPE C TH-gft ' * oolpFiUil
h intDFpDF »( iM TWO irlPtiCH i C EH S PrrjPPI C % «,ncl PI * I ' mi t i op,a I
P5?3?l K tt.« »*■»* tM>.- M CPata*-*. lull - »»<bl>4 MI4 "lift
If ivpr #DHN*Fp. on cpppptla. I n» PSiJJ pari j**ra C T* arm BT5
hirduKP hir' .r ! „ n d t l» tAUfi rat* L * •r34tt*4p» p f Ci^f I ►
up Ip Jj#."T Tar ■ 4£k ^''EC T PU»I , Th« Plcr>|F.f E9dP P'P?'
Mill Tj* *M * ■ D I I" I- » C FJ»Di ' I. tn Pl„|.]ap»Fil VbUv,
TiTjeTf:. r>l f . C^.tfi* Fir. Ir'Frun I .Till j.p --^ -
irtf> Iff* ID 1f up CpntfpniEl-tFpi pnntirl Inl th*r nil] H* l F.
• n t<1r* pof I ■ Du' V*PtLLl'< TpiB •* I t*f mo*X—*'* I* "a.
iFii, df<«rih|:
V*' lfblf I »«• #nF| pFJ<9* lf"ll" npliFMii.
F' r Dtf r iiwib L w pr i rT#r e antral Eblft.
F'P Ea >V uin diMnd fur I n I *F *l m\ I F*Fi« J
IHMM ■ t t * , r
Split tf>#»-T Dppill ID« <OF »S7J3 l"t»i Ipra.
■FIVTIU ll bFtn upliil't.
PP ICE . u.j E*0, »M» V*T f | | , V> pip
& & T MO *
T hp MU4M Ad^hnaLip' p*r I i pi* TiSwOffj i*in -o'<1 prpcpnai
FTTll CP 1* I K|t p|i(Kt CDPDl(i>tF,| to MF liilprlwi, t,n Fllil' fa*
»m I I 1 »T f n l in i 1 Ii T»i» Hi t f r* ~ ' i warn !-•■>■ < • - » oP ilk, m*f*»i i I . r ,
• n* Of- | I I | ant d»»3Tr, .
> Di.f»A F Old Dt* t £13, "O lirll.
GPftF-'M ICQ FOP IMtERFACE I '
■ hp* *ewp * Ec.mfc.fcH jjipjl Tft Twin rn.HTfcf,
gur a^lanlblv* fpn I'nr. ■ n prL34uCI<IFJ UOP^tMCl t>rl V »P •f>4±u,ar*
♦ at 1F|* Sd*ECrm.^« pniAlpt u» La Q* + 1W HDttDHHf . ■ *of,-#rt» p-r.t.T.
far um rtitH *tF*Cl*l#"S IMTEf>F<lCE I -id iyi)F.M4 P' idHUFi
.Pirn # \ I Dbrfc til^ri r •>»□ I u t I QPI icrppii auFAp* In tpHJ mna * I f*o
mppD'ti tti> u «* n» '*» #ndj atMi piriFittr cnmrE-i ciiifkIifi,
PlCP»lj»4F r' il«H J« « PBil»F«tp ta.'iO Hlfl, Kill ^PPOF «_ »ll l "*
p<- | r | *f * nuprkOFj with * prDvlSfd trip. Mr* »ifJipOf» Witrl ji Ml i*
|FLt>-rf«>. II1BPS OF '"E l*t » tf HEMLS INTEWACt t>6 r*l WEEP
THI4 50FTWAH .
PP1T-F C-..WWA1 0L0 nF»»,
HOREX
PERIPHERALS
«CESB .n« ■FMTC.L.ATCA«tl''UT»." --Ic,
Pl»»*t> »nd ,p«r gFiif tar
MOAE X PERIPHERAL.* I
K I NQ 1 & ROAH
READING, VERKt
A -"IE J
TlkBK! f«l-»*F-?li MQREH f>
K llm. d-v* tor ppllppry. taLl ord.P Brl 1 r .
3S
SINCI^IR USER January 1984
Spectrum Software Scene
Few rewards
in difficult
mission
SILVERSOFT is not exag-
gerating very much when it
calls one of its new releases
Mission Impossible. Some-
thing like a cross between
Frogger and Lunar Landing,
the game features a space ves-
sel which has been sent to
rescue a group of astro-min-
ers trapped on Titan.
As it descends from the
mothership, the vessel has to
avoid a barrage of meteors,
any of which will destroy it,
and it has to drop squarely on
a landing pad if it is not to
crash. On the way up, a host
of alien spacecraft bar your
way but you can blast them
with your laser, scoring
points each time. Finally,
connecting with the mother-
ship is as difficult an oper-
ation as landing successfully.
The game promises 50
screens of ever-increasing dif-
ficulty but unless you are an
arcade player you are
unlikely to get beyond the
first screen. Less expert play-
ers will find the game finishes
very quickly and will have to
wait for the title screen to
appear and clear again before
starting another game, which
could prove discouraging.
The graphics are simple
and it seems likely that only
those with a taste for difficul-
ty will find this a rewarding
exercise. Mission Impossible
is obtainable from Silversoft,
London House) 271/273
King Street, London W6,
and costs £5-95.
Plumbing depths of
a testing puzzle
ABYSS for the 48K Spec-
trum is a simple graphics ad-
venture which is designed to
test your refelexes as well as
your mathematics. The idea
is that you must cross a series
of rickety wooden bridges
over an Abyss surrounded by
monsters which lurk in the
shadows.
Each time you cross a
bridge you are presented with
a challenge which you must
overcome before proceeding
to the next bridge.
The test might be negotiat-
ing a maze using a compli-
cated set of keys, avoiding
giant rats, recognising a word
in a split second, or doing
some mental arithmetic be-
fore your time runs out. The
sequence of the tests changes
constantly and you need to be
able to think quickly. If you
play the game a few times,
the answers will be increas-
ingly easy to find, so it does
not offer endless scope.
Nevertheless, it is a lively
puzzle, with amusing re-
sponses from the computer,
although in one case we sus-
pected that it threw us into
the abyss in spite of a correct
answer.
Abyss is available from
Cases Computer Simulations,
14 Langton Way, London
SE3 7TL, It costs £5.
Slow vampire
pursuit
discourages
interest
TERMINAL SOFTWARE
calls it Vampire Village, a
real-time graphic adventure.
The scenario is that you are
the mayor of Vladsdorf who
has heard that a vampire
threatens outlying farm-
steads.
You start with a fund of
£999 with which to hire
villagers to help you locate
the vampire and you must
direct them in their search.
A map shows the village
and the river which runs be-
side it and you can move each
volunteer by using the cursor
keys.
Pressing V will give you
the words you can use and
pressing P will show the
player's position at any stage,
Unfortunatelyi the graph-
ics are painfully slow and
obtaining any mean in.nl ul
response troni any of the vo-
cabulary keys is in most cases
unrewarding, so that it is easy
to lose interest in the fate of
the trusty villagers before you
get anywhere near the vam-
pire.
Vampire Village can be ob-
tained from Terminal Soft-
ware, 28 Church Lane,
Prestwich, Manchester M25
5AJ. The cost is £6.95.
Gambling without cash
TEMPTATION Software
brings the bright lights of Las
Vegas a little closer to home
with two games on one cas-
sette for the I6K Spectrum.
Fruit Machine is a faithful
replica of the familiar pub
game, complete witb spin-
ning symbols and nudge,
hold and cancel keys. You
can collect or gamble and
your score is laid out neatly at
the side of the screen. Fruit
Machine cannot claim origi-
nality, nor does it offer the
thrills of gambling for mon-
ey, but the graphics are excel-
lent and, within its limits, the
game is presented profes-
Black Jack on the same
tape is a version of the card
game, Pontoon. You start
with £10 and lose or win 10
pence at each tussle with the
computer. True to the rules
of any gambling den, the
computer as the banker has
the edge over the other player
in case of a draw and you will
probably see your winnings
decrease steadily.
If you win a hand, you can
choose to collect or try to
double your stake. Black Jack
does not hold (he excitement
of a genuine card game
played for cash but the re-
sponses are fast and the chal-
lenge of trying to beat the
computer is addictive.
The cassette insert ex-
plains the rules of both games
clearly. Las Vegas is avail-
able from Temptation Soft-
ware, 27 Cinque Ports Street,
Rye, Sussex.
Mott itf/ruMFr on pop #0
SINCLAIR USER January 19£4
Fast action
for trapped
tarantula
BILLED as "the bugs bite
back", the Work Force
Doom Bugs for the 16K.
Spectrum promises you a
busy time. The player takes
the role of a tarantula trapped
inside a grubber's lair. The
way out is via a trapdoor at
the centre of the screen and
you must try to bore your
way through it with the help
of a nibble of honey to renew
your strength at each at-
tempt.
Meanwhile, the grubbers
are reproducing at an alarm-
ing rate. When two eggs
meet, a green bubbergrubber
is hatched and if two green
bubbergrubbers meet, they
form a red grubber which
will destroy you if you collide
with it.
What with Locating the
centre of the trapdoor, nip-
ping back for some honey 3
and trying to destroy eggs
and grubbers before they
team up to destroy you, es-
caping is an exacting task.
The placing of the keys,
which you cannot re-define,
does not make things easier.
The graphics and sound
are suitably frenetic and the
action is fast enough to satisfy
the most practised of arcade
addicts. You receive points
for eating grubs and a bonus
for fighting through to the
next level where the scene is a
maze and the action even hot-
ter than before.
Doom Bugs can be ob-
tained from Work Force, 1 40
Wilsden Avenue, Luton,
Beds. It costs £5.50.
Double-sided releases
provide varied choice
A NKWLY-RELEASED
batch of double-sided tapes
from K-Tel includes It*s
Only Rock and Roll, with
Tomb of Dracula on side
two,
It's Only Rock and Roll is
a strategy game in which the
object is to become a pop
superstar by earning £1 mil-
lion and collecting three sta-
tus symbols.
Among the options are
choosing a name for the
group, planning tours, hiring
managers and selecting
songs. Time, money and en-
ergy are your resources and
you lose the game if you run
out of any of them.
The odds are stacked heav-
ily against you and neither
the songs which the com-
puter offers for your approv-
al, nor the occasional news
flashes which are intended to
enliven the game — "Govern- -
ment taxes pop groups" or
"Tony Blackburn likes Sin-
clair Swingers", for example
— provide much of an incen-
tive to continue playing.
A few graphics and more
amusing responses might
have improved this poten-
tially appealing idea consider-
ably.
Tomb of Dracula is a sim-
ple graphics adventure in
which you attempt to find
your way through a tomb
haunted by ghouls and zom-
bies and reach a staircase
leading to Dracula 's treasure.
On your way, you must col-
lect silver stakes with which
to defend yourself and be
careful to avoid the slime pit.
You may find yourself repeat-
edly entering empty vaults
and neither the story line nor
the graphics is o
enough to compensate.
Castle Colditz,
another double tape, is a
slightly more sophisticated
adventure, in spite of the fact
that it has no graphics.
The location is the notori-
ous prison fortress, from
which you are trying to es-
cape while collecting as much
on
Detective story will
leave you
IN THE Detective for the
48K Spectrurrij you must
imagine you are a private eye
who is trying to get through
Dagger Alley to steal secrets
from a mysterious safe. The
game has 25 levels and if you
reach the final level > which
the insert warns is unlikely,
you have 10 guesses at the
combination of the safe.
The game starts with the
detective being pelted by un-
explained objects which
could be bells or possible
cups; you score points by
shooting at them but are
threatened with extinction by
old car tyres which gather
together and drop on you if
you do not move out of the
guessing
way. The detective moves left
and right along the bottom of
the screen and if he disap-
pears off one side he will re-
appear from the other.
The action is fast and even
the first level is difficult but
there is no explanation, either
on the tape or on the cassette
insert, as to what is happen-
ing, which detracts consider-
ably from the interest of the
game. Unless you are already
firmly addicted to zapping
anything in sight, this is
unlikely to convert you. The
Detective is produced by Ar-
cade Software, Technology
House, 32 Chislehurst Road,
Orpington, Kent BR6 ODG.
It costs £5.50;
Nazi loot as you can to take
with you.
lecting as much Nazi loot as
you can to take with you.
The scene changes quickly
— from bath-house to trophy
room to mortuary among
others — and there is an in-
teresting variety of treasures
and messages to spur you.
Full instructions are given at
the start and if you make a
map as you proceed, your
quest should not prove too
duTicult.
The second side of the
Castle Colditz tape offers
Battle of the Toothpaste
Tubes. It is a shoot-out game
featuring a tube of toothpaste
from which you fire at the
evil brush brigade and the
serried ranks of mini- tubes
below.
You must beware of the
chattering teeth but can pro-
tect yourself with your flu-
oride shield. If you hit the
handle of a brush instead of
the bristles, your toothpaste
will rebound.
Apart from the novel sce-
nario there is nothing par-
ticularly original about a
simple arcade game which
should only please anyone
who is addicted to pressing
the fire button.
It's Only Rock and Roll
and Castle Colditz arc avail-
able from K-Tel Internation-
al, K-Tel House, 620
Western Avenue, London
W3 0TU. The cost is £6.95
per double-sided tape.
40
SINCLAIR USER January {984
Spectrum Software Scene
Less software
production
for ZX-81
WE NOTE with regret thai
software manufacturers ap-
pear to be winding-down
their production of tapes for
the ZX-81 The absence of
ZX-81 reviews in this issue of
Sinclair User reflects the scar-
city of programs for that ma-
chine and not lack of interest
on our part.
The ZX-81 still serves as
an excellent and very popular
introduction to computing
and it continues to sell well
both in the U.K. and over-
seas. It would be a pity if
software houses were to ig-
nore a substantial market of
new users whose enthusiasm
might well be reduced by a
limited supply of programs.
We hope manufacturers
will realise the importance of
the ZX-81 and that we will be
able to provide more reviews
in our next issue.
Learning to
play chess
IF YOU would like to learn
to play chess, the Artie Com-
puting Chess Tutor for the
36K Spectrum is a good way
to start. The program starts
with a visual display of the
ways in w r hich each of the
chess pieces can move — only
the Knight's move is a little
difficult to follow. It then
explains the rules and aims of
the game and finally allows
you to choose whether to play
against the computer or to let
the computer demonstrate a
game based on your opening
move. If you decide to play,
you can choose from three
levels of difficulty and the
computer will display the
book opening it has used at
the side of the screen.
Chess Tutor is available
from Artie Computing, Main
Street, Brandesburton, Drif-
ficd Y025 8RG. The cost is
£6.95.
Mounting excitement
in mine rescue
IT IS difficult to see why
Visions set its Pitman Sev-
en, an arcade game for the
48 K Spectrum, in a South
African mine, as thai can
scarcely count as a major sell-
ing point.
Pitman Seven promises
plenty of action and excite-
ment. Two teams of seven
men are trapped under-
ground and your job is to
bring each one to the surface,
despite a series of falling
rocks which pursue the men
along the shafts. You can
Weight controller
"NOW your computer can
look after you instead of de-
fending the earth,' 1 says the
introduction to Diet Mas-
ter, which aims to help you
control your weight and plan
a healthy diet on the 48K
Spectrum.
The program is accompa-
nied by a booklet containing
the information about calo-
ries and the nutritional value
of various foods and as you
are asked questions about
your age, size, build and ac-
tivities, you are referred con-
stantly to the book for
background information.
The authors claim that
Diet Master can provide a
personalised diet plan faster
than books could do but that
is debatable. There are any
number of books and charts
covering the same material
and it should be possible to
plan a sensible diet for one-
self by using them. But if you
like to let the computer do
the work for you, this is a
clearly-explained and well-
presented program.
Diet Master is available
from Delta 7 Software, 11
Clareniont Drive > Headingly,.
Leeds LS6 4ED.
climb ladders or drop
through trapdoors and if you
are lucky you might even be
able to avoid the boulders by
jumping over them
If you manage to get your
men to the top and to safety,
you go to the next level,
where waves of gas create an
additional hazard.
The object is to collect a
series of strategically-placed
suits to protect yourself as
you try to escape.
The concept of the game is
yet another variation on the
maze-with-hazards theme but
the pace of the action is well-
judged and the graphics are
very professional.
The computer also offers
some hard-hitting comments
about your performance at
the end of each mission,
Pitman Seven is available
from Visions Software Fac-
tory, I Felgate Mews, Stud-
land Street, London W6 9JT
and costs £6.95.
Mom fofruxirf on fmgr 42
SINCLAIR USER January 1 984
■II
T
Ladders unsafe
in duck game
CHUCKIE EGG for the
48K Spectrum presents yet
another variation on the Don-
key Kong theme. Here the
object is to negotiate a system
of platforms and ladders,
picking up eggs and corn on
each level while pursued by
giant ducks.
It is surprising that the
ducks give you less concern
than the ladders. Whether in-
tentionally or not, the game
makes it difficult to get on or
off the ladders unless you are
in the proper position. The
slightest touch on the key
might make you over-shoot
your target and., as the ducks
approach, you will find your-
self unable to move out of the
way.
The game also offers a
jump facility but judging
your leaps accurately is no
easier than climbing the lad-
ders. Nor is it any use think-
ing you can wait for the
ducks to cruise past you be-
cause you are playing against
the clock and might run out
of time.
Each level presents new
challenges, such as bigger
gaps in the platforms on level
two, and moving lifts on
which you must try to jump
on level three. Fortunately
you have three lives on each
level » which obviates the
need to return to the begin-
ning again each time you are
mauled by a duck.
Even though the difficulty
of using the ladders as an
escape route slows the game
considerably, Chuckie Egg
manages to be highly addic-
tive and has appealing graph-
ics and sound. It is produced
by A & F Software, 830 Hyde
Road, Gorton, Manchester
M18 7JD, and costs £6.90.
Getting the general drift
of the map of the U.K.
NEW FROM Kuma Com-
puters is a Map of the U.K.
program for the Spectrum. It
allows you to see a 75-mile by
60- mile area of anywhere in
the U.K. and the Republic of
Ireland and extends also to
Calais.
The map shows only the
coastal outline and as many
towns and cities as Kuma
could fit. The 75-by-60-mile
window can be scrolled in all
four directions in fine, medi-
um or coarse steps.
When you reach the edge
of the map, the program
beeps and will not let you go
further.
Besides being able to scroll
the window, you can also
search for a named town, find
the distance between two
points, find the latitude and
longitude of any place, and
copy the screen to the print-
er.
Everything you need to
know about operating the
program is contained in in-
struction screens. Typing *H'
always returns you to the
Help page, which displays all
the command instructions.
Only valid commands are ac-
cepted and the program ig-
nores all other key presses
except BREAK. CONTIN-
UE re-starts the program.
Also included is a balloon
game in which you burn a
Limited amount of fuel to try
and keep a balloon aloft as
long as possible while you
drift seemingly at random
over the map. If you drift off
the edge, you lose even if you
still have fuel left.
The only problem encoun-
tered with the program is that
nowhere did it indicate
whether it was for a 16K or
48K Spectrum and there
no mention of the name Map
of the U.K.
The program is about
174K and the data is about
224K of code so it takes a
long time to load from tape.
While a map program is cer-
tain not to be as exciting as a
game, this is a very user-
friendly program with no ob-
vious bugs.
Map of the U.K. is avail-
able from Kuma Comp-
puters, 11 York Road,
Maidenhead, Berkshire. It
costs £11.95.
42
SINCLAIR USER January im
Spectrum Software Scene =
Take-over
strategy
for city
ANOTHER RECENT offer-
ing from CCS is Gangsters,
a strategy game for the 48 K
Spectrum. As the leader of a
gang in I he U.S. in the prohi-
bition era, your objective is to
take over a city from other
gang leaders. You start with a
certain amount of money and
a certain number of gang-
sters, and can invest in assets
such as speakeasies, distill-
eries and casinos.
You can also use your
funds tor your personal pro-
tection and the bribery of city
officials and must cope as
best you can with unforeseen
events, such as raids from
rival gangs or being arrested.
It is even possible to go
into murder mode and hire a
killer to wipe out your rivals
and a sub-plot concerning the
search for the other hidden
arms of the gangs is an ap-
pealing twist to the story.
At the end of a round, your
monthly position is shown
and you go on to the next
month's tribulations, at-
tempting to move up the
player league table by in-
creasing your income.
Gangsters is very similar to
a board game, with the com-
puter throwing the dice and
keeping track of assets, gang
members killed, and so on.
The graphics are simple but
the game is carefully-pre-
sented and there is plenty of
variety to keep you playing.
You can also choose from
nine levels of difficulty.
Gangsters is available from
Cases Computer Simula-
lions, 14 Langton Way, Lon-
don SE3 7TL, and costs £6.
Underwater challenge
AQUARIUS for the lfrK
Spectrum will remind any as-
piring James Bond just how
perilous life can be under
water. You have to imagine
that you are the commander
of a frogman team whose mis-
sion is to destroy the death
machines an enemy govern-
ment has built in an under-
water cavern.
At the beginning of the
game you are given a secret
colour code to remember,
your eventual aim being to
shoot at the colours in the
Battle of the
mental blocks
MANOR SOFTWARE calls
its Scatterbrain lor the 48K
Spectrum a game of logic and
deduction. The basic idea is
that your brain contains a
number of mental blocks
which prevent you thinking
straight. The first stage in
eliminating the mental blocks
is to launch mind probes to
find them and the second
stage is to fire surgical lasers
to destroy them.
Locating the blocks is
made more difficult by the
fact that if your probe gets
near them, it will go in an
unexpected direction; if it
hits one, the probe will disap-
pear. Eventually, von deduce
the position of the blocks
from the behaviour of the
probes.
The brain and its mental
blocks are represented by a
grid which looks very much
like the old pencil and paper
game of Battleships. You
launch your probe by input-
ting the numbers of the side
and column in which you
think the block might be.
If you lose patience with
elaborate instructions and a
complex set of rules, the
game is not for you. It starts
with a seemingly endless suc-
cession of screens giving in-
formation which you must
absorb fully to be able to play
the game. If you are persis-
tent and like a taxing puzzle,
it should provide an absorb-
ing occupation. It is for one
or two people and there are
nine levels.
Scatterbrain is produced
by Manor Software, 24 Man-
or Gardens, London SW20
9AB. It costs £5.95.
correct sequence to wipe out
the enemy lair.
You may find, however,
that proceeding that far is an
impossible task. You will be
pursued by jellyfish, poison-
ous sea squirts and sharks,
and if none of those gets you*
you can be blown up by
mines or entangled in deadly
weeds at the bottom. You can
shoot your way out of
trouble, scoring points as you
do so, but remember that the
shark, which even after you
have avoided it advances to-
wards you from the other
side, must be shot square in
the head. To add to your
troubles, you must remember
to pick up oxygen tanks on
your way or you will die from
lack of air.
If you manage to survive
the first set of hazards, level
two offers a jagged cave to
swim through, with an elec-
tric barrier at the end of it.
The number and awkward
placing of the keys needed to
play Aquarius present an
additional challenge and you
may find it easier to succeed
in your mission iT you use a
joystick,
Aquarius is available from
Bug-Byte, Mulberry House,
Canning Place, Liverpool LI
8JB and costs £5.95.
SINCLAIR USER January tm
43
Spectrum Software Scene
Mapping a
course
through
The Forest
PHIPPS ASSOCIATES has
produced a simulation pro-
gram for the 48K Spectrum
to teach the art of orienteer-
ing. The Forest is presented
very professionally, with a
map and a detailed booklet to
accompany it. The program
offers a pre-set route but you
can also map your own
course and use that instead.
The program is definitely
not for novices. The booklet
warns that you need a ruler
graduated in millimetres and
a protractor for measuring
angles to participate; the
graphics change to show your
position as you move, taking
into account the contours of
the terrain and variations in
bearing and length of step.
You use the cursor keys to
move. The left and right ar-
rows move you 1 1 .25 degrees
each time, the up arrow
moves you forward for as
long as you keep it depressed,
the down arrow turns you
180 degrees to face the way
you have come. Other com-
mands allow you to check
your bearings,, see your con-
trol card, enter your code and
check your time.
Unless you are an exper-
ienced orienteer, it is very
easy to get lost and the book-
let recommends you to keep
track of all your moves as you
make them.
Even experienced orien-
teers will probably be re-
lieved to know that it is
necessary only to arrive with-
in five metres of the finish
point marked on the map.
The graphics are simple
but effective and the booklet
provides very thorough ex-
planations. The Forest is
available from Phipps Associ-
ates, 172 Kingston Road,
Ewell, Surrey KT10 OSD.
The complete package costs
£9.95.
Extra lives would make
a more exciting ride
TWO RECENT releases
from Virgin Games are Rid-
er and Angler, both for the
48K Spectrum. In Rider, you
are an M15 agent charged
with a two-part mission.
Stage one consists of par-
achuting into enemy territory
and attempting to land on a
moving motor-cycle. Thus
mounted, you then move to
stage two, which entails rid-
ing through a minefield to
check [he terrain prior to in-
vasion.
You choose any level of
difficulty from 001 to 007
and must avoid not only ran-
domly-placed mines but ob-
stacles which may cause you
to crash. If you manage to-
stay the course you will be
promoted.
The graphics in both
stages of the game are lively
and the second stage prom-
ises a fast and challenging
ride. A major fault, however,
is that if you crash during
stage two, you have to go
back to your original par-
achuting exercise. Extra lives
for the motor-cyclist would
have made the game more
satisfying, as the second part
is the more exciting and diffi-
cult to master.
Angler could help confirm
the low status of fishing as a
spectator sport. In it you are
at sea with your trawler, at-
tempting to catch a variety of
fish, all gaining different
scores according to their
type.
The trawler moves left and
right and pressing any key
casts the fishing line. Accord-
ing to the instructions, the
length of time you keep the
keys depressed determines
the length of the line but, in
the reviewer's experience, the
line showed an infuriating
tendency to stop short of any
fish at which it was aimed.
The game features a snue-
board so that you can com-
pete against your friends and
a high score earns a certificate
of merit. Fairly rudimentary
graphics and slow responses,
even if you choose an ad-
vanced level of difficulty, do
not make it wildly exciting.
Rider and Angler are pro-
duced by Virgin Games, 61-
63 Portobello Road, London
Wll and cost £5.50 each.
Sailing for profit on the high seas
IN CARIBBEAN Trader for
the 48K Spectrum, you arc
the captain of a cargo vessel
plying the Caribbean. Start-
ing with your funds and a
loan from the loan shark,
your aim is to invest in var-
ious cargos such as tobacco,
guns, spices and slaves and
see if you can make a killing
in any of four island ports.
Each time you set sail, a
Difficult to run
rings round it
BILLED as "an inscrutable
puzzle," Hanoi King for the
16K Spectrum is another ver-
sion of that ancient game,
Towers of Hanoi. You have
three pillars, with anything
from three to nine rings on
the first * The object is to
transfer the rings from the
first to the last pillar in the
minimum number of moves,
remembering that a large ring
cannot go on top of a small
one.
The puzzle is easy when
playing with three rings,
much more difficult with
nine, when 511 moves are
needed to succeed. An 'L'
option allows you to see a
demonstration by the com-
puter or how it is done.
The graphic representa-
tion of the game is very sim-
ple and there is no indication
of how many moves are need-
ed on the lower levels, some-
thing you have to discover
yourself.
It is such a classic puzzle
that it cannot fail to absorb
you but more could have
been made of it with better
graphics and perhaps a more
interesting scoring system.
Hanoi King is available
from Count*! Software,
Farnham Road, West Liss,
Hampshire GU33 6JIL It
costs £4.95.
variety of things can happen
to you — rebel pirates might
board you and buy your
guns, a police party might
confiscate your illegal cargo,
or a typhoon might force you
to jettison everything on
board. On lhi j other fund, u
might pass over without caus-
ing any serious damage.
Meanwhile, the prices of
the commodities in which
you <uc in r crested are fluctu-
ating and the interest on your
loan continues to rise. The
game can be played on three
levels of difficulty and in
spile of very basic graphics,
the lively story-line and a
number of possible variations
— many depending on the
route you happened to be
sailing — make it an addictive
strategy game. Meeting the
objective — becoming solvent
— is not easy, which adds
further interest*
Caribbean Trader is
available from East Midland
Software, 54 Ryecroft Street,
Staplttford, Notts, and costs
£4.95.
SINCLAIR USF.R January m
PLAY T
Arcade Action For The
JOY?
Joystick
£9.95
I
IjOYSTICK INTERFACE
If you want Arcade quality
control for your Sinclair ZX
Spectrum, you* II find the
Protek combination hard to
beat. The interface is
compatible with a range of
software including a number
of titles from:
ULTIMATE, SILVERSOFT,
RABBIT SOFTWARE,
QUICKSILVER, QUEST,
PSION, NEW GENERATION
SOFTWARE, IMAGINE,
OCEAN, plus many more.
The protek joystick interface is simple to use. It just plugs in at the back of your
Spectrum and is compatible with any "Atari type" Joystick Connector. We
recommend the Spectra v ision Joystick at only £9.95
for Pistol Grip Joystick with a top and base fire button
plus specially contoured shape and rubber suction cup
footing for single hand operation.
STOP PRESS * Now compatible with
AIRLINE
Grid Runner
w
■§IIIM' '
it
SINCLAIR USER January ;9S4
SINCLAIR USER January 19S4
RICHARD SHEPHERD SOFTWARE
A HOME BUDGETING & BANKING SYSTEM
THAT REALLY MAKES Y
48K SPECTRUM WORK!
P
COMPATIBLE
A professional style mult f function
Cash Controller program that can
load and make an entry in just 90
SECONDS . . . thanks to its ZX
MICRODRIVE COMPATIBILITY. If
you're not ready to upgrade to
Microdrive yet, this easy to use
cassette program can handle up to
400 transactions with your
Spectrum, almost filling the 48K
memory of your computer.
BANK ACCOUNT
• Statements on demand from any
date to date
• Holds up to 400 transactions
• Standing order fat] I ity
• All transactions can be
automatically coded to allocate up to
1 6 budget headings.
• Search facility for any single i tern
by description or amount
HOME BUDGETING
• 1 6 budget headings, e.g. Gas,
Rates, Car. Tax - you can choose the
headings
• Highlights under/over spending
• Full budget expenditure
breakdown
• Budget re -think " facility
LOAN/MORTGAGE
CALCULATOR
All you ever wanted to know but
didn't like to ask! Calculates
• Interest rates
• Payback periods
• Capital sum
• Period of loan
REMEMBER THIS CASSETTE
CAN ALSO BE USED
WITH ZX MICRODRIVE
• PRINTOUT FACILITY
USING ZX PRINTER
• FULL SECURITY WITH
PERSONAL PASSWORD
• FULL SAVE PROGRAM
ONTO CASSETTE OR
MICRODRIVE
Available from good computer
stores or direct by mail order..
at a price that won t upset
the Bank Manager!
k
£9.95
INC P ft P
MICRODRIVE
CARTRIDGE
\^ MOT INCLUDED J
Deafer enquiries
welcome.
Generous discounts.
FIRST FOR
MICRODRIVE
Dealer enquiries welcome. Gene-rout discounts.
. CASH CONTROLLERS
Please send me
M £9 95 each including post S packing [overseas
orders add £1 50)
Nam? .
Address
I enclose cash/cheque /P 0 pay^WP to fficlwd
Shepherd Software
Or credit my Access/ VISA Card Number
n
1
Signature
Credit Card Hotline (06286 J 63531 L jr^««™^"^ J
RICHARD SHEPHERD SOFTWARE
ELM HOUSE, 23-25 ELMSHOTT LANE, CIPPENHAM. SLOUGH, BERKS. TEL. |06286|
Upgrade your
16K
ZX SPECTRUM
Now!
The CHEETAH 32K RAMPACK simply plugs into the user port at the rear of
your computer and increases the memory instantly to 48K
* Fully compatible with all accessories via rear edge connector
* No need to open computer and invalidate guarantee
+ Why send your computer away and wait weeks for upgrade
* Fully cased tested and guaranteed.
Why wait any longer?
Only £39.95 including VAT and P&P.
Now make your
Spectrum and ZX-81 Talk
The Cheetah "SWEET TALKER" just plugs into the back of the computer using the existing power supply. Based on an
allophone system you can easily program any word sentence or phrase. Fully cased, tested guaranteed and compatible
with all accessories via rear edge connector. Complete with demonstration cassette and full instructions No more lonely
nights! Simply incredible at £29,75 {Please quote when ordering whether Spectrum or 2X81 owner)
16K RAM Pack for ZX 81 £19.75
64K RAM Pack for ZX 81 £44 75
Prices include VAT\ postage & packing. Delivery normally 14 days. Export orders at no extra cost, Dealer enquiries
welcome. ^ nn
Send cheque/PO now to:
CHEETAH MARKETING LTD
Dept SU/1
24 Ray Street
London EC1 R3 DJ
Tel. (H-278 6954
32K RAM Pack and "SWEET TALKER" also available from larger Branches of
WH SMITH
S[NCLAIRUSER January 1984
49
Keyboard replacement eases
the way to a faster game
John Gilbert looks at the differences which using a joystick can
make to some well-known programs
THE MOST OBVIOUS aspect
of joystick games and interfaces
is the incompatibility in the
market. That was not helped by the
introduction of another standard when
the Sinclair Interface Two reached the
market. The only real compatibility of
the device with the rest of the software
available is its incompatibility.
Interface Two and rhe promised Sin-
clair joysticks, advertised but which few
people have seen, use the cursor keys.
Sinclair Research does not seem to have
realised that most of software produced
for the Spectrum uses anything but
those keys.
The good news so far as the Interface
is concerned is that Sinclair has made
sure that most of the games are in its
cassette and EPROM library. The
games which are available so far on
EPROM— not ROM— are few and all of
them are old favourites, Sinclair has
launched two games which are new to
the library, the Ulrimate range, includ-
ing Cookie PSSST and Jet Pac.
Jet Pac is an excellent example of
how the Interface works with the soft-
ware. The game entails donning a space
suit and jumping fom planet to planet
in search of treasure. That sounds easy
but on each planet there are various
types of alien to fight with your laser
gun. To get off the planet and beat the
baddies you must find the various sec-
lions of your rocketship and then jump
into it. The rocket will then take off
with you inside.
The game is simple using the normal
key combinations but it is made easier
with a joystick. Unfortunately it is
made a little too easy with the device.
Since the release of the Ultimate
game on cartridge, the original manu-
facturer has released Lunar Jetman. It
can be described only as a sequel and it
contains many of the elements of Jet
Pac with a few more added to make it
more entertaining.
All the action takes place on the
surface of a planet where the spaceman
who is under your control has transport
in the form of a lunar buggy. Into it he
must pile treasures which can be picked
up on the way round the planet. If all
the treasure and gadget-hunting was not
sufficient you will have to dodge aliens
which are depicted in 3D,
The game is almost unplayable if you
use the keyboard combination but if you
use a programmable joystick with some
of the options it becomes bearable. If
you become proficient with a joystick
you should be able to notch some good
scores.
Lunar Jetman is just one of a number
of games which are difficult to use
because of the keyboard layout and so
could benefit with the addition of a
joystick. The 3D masterpiece, 3D Tun-
nel from New Generation Software, is
very difficult to play using the key-
board. That is not because of any diffi-
culty with the way the control keys are
laid out but because of the slowness of
the response when you press a key to
change direction,
The game has the player moving
through an underground tunnel in
which there are many natural creatures,
such as rats, spiders and toads, w r ith an
evil-looking subway train at the end. If
er which must stop aircraft buzzing in
the sky which are intent on killing
refugees on the ground. The response
to the controls is fast but a joystick is
needed to take advantage of the speed
and also to leave the user free to think
about the game and not the keyboard
layout.
Zip Zap is the other game from
Imagine. It benefits from a joystick
option because the central character,
the last fighting robot of a long-dead
race, has an unusual movement pattern.
On the keyboard it is controlled using
two keys, iryou use the left key it will
start to turn anti-clockwise and if the
right key is pressed it will start to turn
clockwise.
The movement pattern is not easy to
assimilate but it is just bearable using
The keyboard. Things are made better
with a joystick. All you have to do is
push the stick left or right and the robot
goes in the direction you wish.
The object is to pick up the time keys
and reach the time transporter to pro-
ceed to the next page of the game. The
effects of the joystick are so good that
The response to the controls is fast but a
joystick is needed to take advantage of the
speed and also to leave the user free to think
about the game and not the keyboard layout'
you hit one of the walls of the tunnel
while trying ro kill a creature with your
laser gun and cannot change direction
you will die. If you use a joystick you
should be able to change direction easily
or, better still* stay in the middle of the
tunnel.
With 3D Tunnel the joystick helps
only slightly because movement in the
game is not particularly easy in any
event.
Two other games which benefit from
the use of a joystick but can, with
practice, be played on a keyboard are
from Imagine Software. ZZoom has the
player in the hot seat of a rocket launch-
you should find yourself getting on to
levels you had thought impossible,
Programmhle joysticks such as those
from AGF Hardware and t Cambridge
Computing can be used with any game
and you should think about I he joystick
first and not the games with which it is
compatible, no matter what the manu-
facturers would have you believe. In the
testing for use on a wide range of games,
programmable joysticks were near the
top.
The industry standard seems to be
the Kempston interface and joystick. It
is not programmable in the same way as
the definition caters for that from Cam-
SINCLA1R USER January S984
bridge Computing and the AGF joy-
stick. If you buy a Kempston joystick
you will usually need a conversion cas-
sette for the games you intend to play.
The conversion software on the
Kempston cassettes will take care of the
programming of the interface. You will
not have to go through a lengthy pro-
cedure of getting the connections in the
proper place or making sure that the
programming has been done once you
have entered the game you intend to
play.
One of the uses of a programmable
joystick which has not been investigated
is compatibility* first with graphics ad-
ventures and then with text adventures.
The first graphics adventure on the
Spectrum scene, Black Crystal from
Carnell Software, can be used with a
joystick. That means you can move the
adventurer round the maps incorporat-
ed in the game without having to use
the keyboard.
The eilects of a joystick on this ad-
venture are not particularly pro-
nounced, as it is written in Basic and is
slow. It is one instance where the use of
a joystick is questionable.
As an extension to joystick use in
graphic adventures, the direction com-
mands in text adventures can, in some
instances, be programmed into a joy-
stick interface.
That is possible only with adventures
which will allow the use of mnemonics
such as N for North and S for South,
where directions are concerned.
Two examples for which it may be
possible to use joysticks are The Hob-
bit and Valhalla, which could be de-
scribed as a graphics adventures.
Simulation software is also ideal for
conversion to joystick. Flight Simula*
tion is an obvious choice in this area of
the game in manoeuvre-making. The
joystick transforms it from a good simu-
lation to an exciting and stimulating
exercise in realism.
Another piece of software from Sin-
clair which is both a game and simula-
tion is Chequered Flag. In it you are
in control of a racing car and have to go
round one of several famous tracks.
All the action is in 3D and you
should find a joystick an advantage,
because if your reactions are not fast
enough you could either crash into the
side of the track or skid on some oil.
While we found the joystick helpful we
have not been able to beat the track
record*
One final simulation w T hich could
benefit from a joystick is the Train
Game from Microsphere, In it you
have to move round a track, picking up
are
passengers at stations before they
over-runj and switch points to avoid
crashing.
With a programmable joystick you
could manipulate the direction in which
the train is travelling and use the fire
button to switch the points. The Train
Game is easy to use with the keyboard
but it improves with the aid of a joy-
stick.
The future of joystick software seems
to be assured. New types of joystick are
being created for the Spectrum ail the
lime and one of the latest, a version of
the Apple Le Stick, is the Trickstick
from East London Robotics,
The stick resembles a large tube
which you hold in your hand and, by
tilting it at different angles, you can
make your figures in the computer
games move in the corresponding direc-
tion.
The other good news is < I I K
hopes 10 make the device compatible
with all software.
The use of joysticks can only aid the
games player. It also provides a much-
needed new area into which games can
We may soon see games being devel-
oped specially for joystick control. That
will give the games sector a new lease of
life, as they become more complex,
realistic and enjoyable. The age of the
keyboard as the sole input device could
be ending.
Sinclair Research, Stanhope Road. Camber
ley, Surrey GU15 3PS-
Uttimata Play The Game. The Graan. Ash by
de la Zouch, Leicestershire LE6 5JU-
New Generation. Freepost, Bath BA2 4TD
Imagine. Mason s Building, Third Floor, Ex-
change Street East. Liverpool.
Microsphere. 72 Rosebery Road, London
N10 2LA.
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
Tl
FootballGamc
Football Manager
Designed by Kevin Torn*
This oulsfanding game of skill and
ategy is now widely available
and you can join ttie many
thousands of satisfied customers
who have purchased the game.
This is no five minute wonder -
you wilt be playing this game
tor hours ovef many weeks
(we know - our customers tell us!}.
I
Some of the features of the game:- **** ,oms
* Matches in 3D graphics * Transfer market
* Promotion and relegation * F.A, Cup matches
* Injury problems * Full league tables
+ Four Divisions * Pick your own team for each match
★ As many seasons as
you like
★ Managerial rating
_ ★ 7 skill levels
^ | jpd I I a ^f^m * Save game facility
II
we
Comments about the game from press
and ocr customers
"FOOTBALL MANAGER is the best game I
have yet seen on the Spectrum and rr>y
personal favourite of all the games on am/
micro , , . To the ordinary person it is an
excellent view of what can be done in ihe
Mela 1 of computer games ... The crowning
glory of this game is the short set pieces of
match highlights which show little stick men
running around a pitch shooting, defending
and scoring , It is a compulsive game but
people who cannot take game sessions of 9
hours or so. which happened on one happy
Sunday, will be grateful to know that there Is
a save to tape option FOOTBALL
MANAGER has everything it could The
■ZXI1 Chart
Home Compiling Weekly 16 B Bi
Action from the Spectrum version
originator, Addictive Games, certainly
deserve the name " Rating: 19 20 (Practical
Computing - August 1983].
"When I first received mis game I spent the
best part of the weekend playing it Since
then V have returned to it more often than
any other The truly addictive quality of this
game is the remarkable way it minors the
real football manager's problems ..,
"(Personal Computer Games - Summer
19 B3)
"It's my own fault you did warn me - ( am
totally and completely hooked on FOOTBALL
MANAGER." (Mr A Wright- Lancashire,]
M H is by far the best software game thai l
have seen for the Spectrum (Mr. N Lincoln
- Surrey.]
"I congratulate you for a marvellous game
whlchTteeps the player enthralled. " (Mr. N.
Creasey — Gerrards Cross,]
"I am writing to say what a great game ii is I
have spent over 45 hours on it " (Mr D.
Feam - Gloucestershire ]
Your FOOTBALL MANAGER game is
terrific," (Mr. M. Gumming - West
Bromwich.)
Available from computer software stockists nationwide, including & WH SMITH $
Prices: Spectrum 48K £6.95
ZX81 16K £5°5
(NB 3D GRAPHICS ARt NOT INCLUDED IN
THEZX81 VERSION]
To order by mall ( pfltp free) send cnequef or
postal orders to:
AMictire Games
Albert Hon**. Albert Road, Bournemouth &W !BZ
I Spectvmvefsjononlv
Dealers! For urgenf stocks send
your headed notepaper direct to
our address
RS232 :
Setting up a standard
for data transmission
Stephen Adams unravels some of the mystery surrounding the
RS232 and explains how to connect the device
WITH or without the C, RS232
is much-used to describe a
way of transmitting data
without telling you much how it intends
to do it. The so-called standard is set
out in the Institute of Electrical and
Electronic Engineers library as a list of
specifications for a serial interface,
along with a standard 25-way "D" type
connector,
So far as the computer industry is
concerned, the IEEE might as well not
have bothered. The only thing on
which anyone agrees is that the output
is Serial — that is one binary 0 or binary
i is sent at a time.
I hope to untangle the mess of
RS232s and provide some help on set-
ting-up a connection between the two.
If you have listened to Morse code on a
radio, that is exactly how RS232 data is
sent. Instead of different sounds,
though, different voltages are transmit-
ted.
That is usually taken from a byte of
data eight bits long which is represented
normally in the computer by eight
wires, each carrying a binary I or a
binary 0 — +5 volts or 0 volts. The
maximum number of combinations
from those eight bits is 256 and they can
vary between 00000000 — eight zeros
— and 1 1 1 1 1 1 I I eight ones.
The language which computers use to
talk to each other is called American
Standard Code for Information
Exchange and is made up only of seven
bits of binary information. That covers
all the letters, numbers and printable
symbols between the numbers 32 —
space — and 127 — usually delete. The
lower 32 numbers from 0 to 31 are what
is called control codes and are used to
indicate to the computer or other de-
vices, such as printers, that it is a
command which should he done and
not printed. Some of them are used to
control the sending of information such
"this is the start of the message* 1 —
STX code 2 - and "this is the end of
the message" — ETX code 3.
All data to be sent is usually made up
of seven bits and the data must be
altered to fit into the seven-bit format.
If it is eight-bit data or code it is usually
split into two hexadecimal — 2 to the
power of 1 6 — characters. They will be
from 0 to F each and thus fit into the
ASCII character seven-bit code. Eight-
hit characters can be sent but special
arrangements must be made in the send-
ing and receiving RS232s so that they
recognise that eight-bit characters are
being sent and do not corrupt the last
data bit. So that is one parting from the
standard that 8 or 7 bits of data can be
sent.
Rule one is to check how to set up
both devices to seven- or eight-bit work-
ing. If no setting is possible on one
device, it should be set up for that type.
A parity bit is sometimes used to
check that the data sent is the data
received. That is done by inserting an
extra bit into the data at the end, saying
whether the data sent is an odd or an
even number of binary Is — odd or even
parity. If even parity is used, the parity
bit is 0 when the number of binary Is
are an even number and I when they arc
an odd number, thus making the sum of
the bits always an even number.
Odd parity is the opposite, always
making an odd number of binary Is.
That is required only by some modem
systems and, given the choice, parity
bits should be omitted at both ends. If
parity is used it must be the same at
both ends.
Continued oh pap 54
SINCLAIR USER January- 1984
53
C&Hunued from page 53
7 Dfi
iTA [
NTS.
%
STD*
■■
■
4
3
i
2
1
0
♦
t
t
t
t
1
♦
IS 2 32
START
BIT
Timing
Figure 1 -
Checks
for bit
Rule two is thai parity should be
omitted if possible. If not, it must be the
same at both ends. It is usually set by a
switch inside the computer or RS232
device.
At the beginning and the end of each
data byte — seven or eight bits — are
sent a START bit and one or more stop
bits. The receiving equipment can re-
cognise them as the start and end of the
data. That is important, as data may be
sent as the occasional byte or streams of
bytes and it is called Asynchronous
working — i.e. data is not being sent
continuously which would be Synchro-
nous working.
The start and stop bits are inserted by
the RS2!J2 device and are taken out at
the other end, so that they never be-
come part of the data. The Start bit is
always a single binary 0 — binary 1 is
sent continuously until the start of data
— and the Stop bits are always binary
Is.
So the transmission oT data always
starts with a change from 1 to 0 and
then reverts to i at the end of the data
for at least one time period. Another
word for binary 1 and binary 0 is called
MARK and a SPACE when used with
an RS232 — see figure one.
Rule three is to set up the number of
STOP bits. The START bit is always
set to one. One or other of the devices
will more than likely be set to a fixed
number of STOP bits. The more stop
bits used the more reliable, but slower
the data sent.
The number of bits which can be sent
in one second is called the baud rate and
it is that which determines how long a
bit of data must be. It is used usually to
check what time the receiving RS232
should be looking for a data bit. The
timing is taken from the start of the first
bit received — the START bit — so it is
important that both devices are accurate
in the speed at which they are operating
and that they both work at the same
speed.
If they were operating at different
speeds, the place in time they would be
looking at for sending and receiving
data would be different and only rub-
bish would result at the receiving end.
To be as accurate as possible most
RS232s use a crystal -control led clock
frequency, which is then divided by at
least 16 times to make it even more-
accurate by the RS232 device. On inter-
face One the timing is done by the Z-
80A microprocessor and so that is not
done — all timing is done by software.
That is very important, as speeds of
up to 19,200 baud may be required. As
most RS232 devices can work at differ-
ent speeds for different jobs — 300 baud
for a modem and 2,400 for a printer, for
instance — the speed must be set to be
the same at both ends.
Rule four is to set up the baud rate at
each end to the same speed. Use the
maximum speed possible between the
two devices. If you are having prob-
c The start and stop
bits are inserted by
the RS232 device and
are taken out at the
other end'
lems, reduce the speed of both devices
to see if it improves. Handshaking with
control lines improves the speed at
which the RS232 will work reliably.
The way data is represented accord-
ing to the standard is via a voltage of at
least three volts, either positive or nega-
tive, and a maximum of 15 volts, the
positive voltage being binary 1 and the
negative voltage binary 0. The com-
puter usually uses only voltages of 0
volts and +5 volts internally and so
they must be converted into positive
and negative ones.
That is the most common divergence
from the standard; an RS232C device
should be capable of handling the vol-
tages specified, if they do not, damage
will result, if they are connected to a
proper RS232C device. Therefore an
RS232 device which gives only 0 to 5
volts — as on Commodore Vies — or
gives only +/- 5 volts, as in the case of
the BBC microcomputer, needs some
changes before it can be used with a
proper printer.
The Interface One used on the Spec-
trum gives both those voltages. Some
RS232 devices do not have a negative
voltage supply and thus cannot give the
correct signal for a binary 0, which can
lead to errors.
Others steal the negative voltage from
the other device and use that to reply.
Those types of devices therefore cannot
be used together, as at least one should
have a negative supply.
True RS232 devices therefore should
have a positive and negative supply 3
usually of 12 Volts. They should also
respond only to positive or negative
voltages greater than three volts and
ignore any lower voltages. That makes
the RS232 device fairly free from noise
picked up on the line between the two
devices. That is another usual failure by
RS232 device manufacturers, that of
failing to recognise 0 volts as a binary 0
and not as a fault. That fault could be
due to a power failure in one of the
devices.
Rule five is to check that the voltages
used by both devices are to RS232C
standard and are not marked TTL —
transistor transistor logic — as used in
ICs.
The connection between the two de-
vices is specified as a 25-way l D' type
plug on a cable not usually greater than
50 feet — a female socket on the data
terminal equipment side and a male
socket, with pins, on the DCE side. The
DTE is usually the computer and the
DCE is usually the controlled device.
That is where the confusion really
starts.
The first thing is that, because of the
expense of that type of plug and the fact
that most manufacturers do not require
all 25 pins of the socket, the type of
socket is being changed. They can be
anything from an edge connector to a 9-
pin Atari -type joystick socket as used by
Sinclair. Din plugs like those used on
tape recorders and hi-fi arc also popular,
as they can provide anything from three
to seven pins on plugs, most of which
are incompatible with each other.
Printers have also been affected by
the same problem, so you may need a
special cable made up. Some manufac-
turers have ceased to stock various types
of cables and provide you with just the
bare wires to attach to a plug of your
choice*
Rule six is to make sure you can get a
cable or connectors for both ends. They
may be completely different. The rea-
son that plug was chosen was that it
would cope with all the control lines as
well as the data lines required between
5
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
RS232
the computer and another device. The
control lines are called handshake lines
and can be inputs or outputs. They also
had a specified place on the plug, so
that every one needed only to have a
straight cable from one piece of equip-
ment to the other. Different conditions
could then be set either on the com-
puter or the other device to make them
compatible. The standard plug and
their pin descriptions are detailed in
figure two.
It would be unusual to find a device
where the socket is wired the same way
or,, in the case of microcomputer
whether the socket is used at all. You
must therefore be able to locate, in the
manuals supplied, the connections for
the two devices to connect them.
Rule seven is to check that your
manuals for the computer and the
RS232 device have pin-by-pin descrip-
tion of the socket. If you want a cable to
be made up 3 you must supply that
information to the shop.
The standard descriptions of what
the RS232 pins do in the computer or
device is also essential, as they may stop
the operation completely if left uncon-
nected. Pins with the same initials are
not usually connected, as they usually
do the same job.
Let us take the usual reason for using
an RS232, a printer, as an example.
Transmitted data from the computer
must be connected to RX data on the
printer. If another device is used TX
data from the computer must be con-
nected to RX data on the computer. On
the Spectrum Interface One those are
labelled differently, as TX data is an
input.
Any signal with a horizontal bar over
the top of it (DCD) operates to a binary
0 and those without to a binary I, Some
of those signals cannot be controlled by
the computer — the Spectrum has only
two control lines — and they must be
connected to either + 12 volts — binary
1 — or - 12 volts — binary 0.
That sometimes can be done by a
switch in the printer or on the RS232
device connected to the computer. On
the Spectrum Interface One, use the pin
outputs containing +9 volts and 0 volts
instead.
The minimum connection can be
done by connecting the data line from
the computer to the printer and the
common return line. The common re-
turn gives the standard by which the
printer know T s whether it is positive or
negative signals being received. That is
the only line which must be connected
to the same place on both printer and
computer. If it is left unconnected the
printer will not work.
Rule eight is to set any connections
not made between the two devices to
binary 1 or binary 0, either by a switch
or a wire connection in the plug. Con-
trol — handshake — lines which are
usually available are:
REQUEST TO SEND (RTS) which
tells the device that a data byte is being
sent.
CLEAR TO SEND <CTS) which
tells the device that it is sending a byte
in the other direction.
DATA TERMINAL READY
(DTR) which tells the device that is free
to receive a byte of data.
DATA SET READY (DSR) which
acts in the same way as DTR.
Whether they are inputs or outputs
depends on whether you are looking at
the printer manual or the computer
manual. Any inputs must be connected
to an output but any spare outputs can
be left disconnected.
For a simple set-up on Interface One
connect RX to TX on the printer, TX
to RX from the printer — if provided —
CTS to DTR - so that the Spectrum
turns on the printer when it is sending a
byte — RTS on the printer should be
connected to DTR on the ZX Spec-
trum.
That last connection is important as
the RS232 on Interface One is working
only when D TR is high — binary L If
DTR is low — binary 0 — the Spectrum
waits for DTR to go to binary 1. The
printer then inhibits the Spectrum, only
when it cannot take any more data, by
dropping DTR to binary 0.
If that is not done, because the print-
er is slower than the computer, charac-
ters may be lost. If you do not have a
signal from the printer line, then DTR
on the Spectrum will have to be con-
nected to +9 volts and the speed re-
duced on both devices so it can work
without handshaking.
Rule nine is to find w T hat the connec-
tions do; they may be different on both
devices, but still use the same letters.
Always remember that input goes to
output.
You should nou have sonic idea of
how to connect a printer to an RS232C
device on a computer. You should also
know what questions to ask when
buying an RS232. Each of the descrip-
tions I have given as examples are the
standard ones. Your printer or RS232
manufacturer may have different ideas,
so it is always worthwhile to check.
On other devices, such as modems,
some scientific devices and some musi-
cal instruments, data is transferred both
w r ays. In that case you must split all the
control lines into two sets, one for the
transmit direction — from the computer
— and one for the receive direction — to
the computer. They may work as two
independent units inside the computer
and so the control signals for the trans-
mit may have no effect on the receiver.
Rule ten is to remember that TX and
RX data both have their own set of
control lines.
PIN
INTLS
DESCRIPTION
1
GND
Protective ground (0 volts!
2
TX
Transmit data
3
RX
Receive data
4
RTS
Request to send
5
CTS
Clear to send
6
DSR
Data set ready
7
GND
Signal ground fO volts)
8
RLSD
Received line signal detector [for modems only!
9
TXT
TX timing signal
to
ST8Y
STBY indicator (for modems onlyl
11
Select frequency
12
SCF
Secondary RLSD
13
SCB
Secondary CTS
14
SBA
Secondary TX
15
OB
Transmit timing from DCE device
16
SB8
Secondary RX
1 7
DO
Receiver timing from DCE device
18
Not used
19
SCA
Secondary RTS
20
CD
Data terminal ready
21
CG
Signal quality detector
22
CE
Ringing indicator Imodems only!
23
CH/CI
Oata rate selector
24
DA
TX timing from DTE
25
Not used
SINCLAIR I SLR January 1984
55
(Llnibertfitp £>ot
U B RA RY OF ADVANC E D M ATH/STAT/ECON
TAPE 1: MATRIX OPERATIONS SPFCTRUM £6 95 ZXB1 F5 95
Sid*- A' lrvirn«rt, muttiplicition. addition, subtraction and scalar nnjltipUcpbOn of
matrices »nd vectors within one single program. Any output can in turn be used (a& the
input of 1he ne*t operation without rn typing. CepacHy Iff* 1X81: 25 x25. 16K
Spectrum- 1 7 k 17. 4BK Spectrum. 46 - 48
Side B Oetermjn«n!* at square metrics*.
TAPE 2: POLYNOMIALS SPECTRUM F6.95. iXai £5 95
5-de A includes quadrate equities las degree 2 pnlynnrmdlsi and fJewlon. Rephson
snd half interval search methods 1or higher degree palvnomiela Computes, The roots
witti S dials at precision.
Side B Vou can ploi polynomials in anv mlerval and eaamine Inrjw roots, emrsmum
points
TAPE 3: INTEGRATION SPECTRUM £6 96, ZXB1 C5 95
S»de A lnieo,raimn ot fuocumis bv Simpson/s *nd irapefopdai rules Aim computes the
n-it.i hi. closed by Iwa functions
&de B- Ptoi fll integrals. Ini*grai»an can be visu*li»*d on the screen,
TAPE 4: REGRESSION SPECTRUM f7.96. 2X81 £6 95
Sid* A A h*gWy dnvntaped multivariate regression program featuring Log.'Ln option on
r^ch variable (mu» allowing eaponcntutf and geometric rwgreaairins>, R 1 , corrected R 3 .
standard errors, t-Etctiibcs. F-atanstics. degrees of freedom, Durbin Watson siatistic,
interpolation Capa^iv ir\a of variables » no ot observational. 16K ZXB1; 2*500,
S y 250 10 * 140, 16K Spectrum. 2 x 220. 5 x K». 10 x &0, 4BK Spectrum: 2 k IdOO.
5x900.10x500
S.de B: P»n( ol taivanate ferjr«sir>ns. You can see how your computer drewi a bast-
fitting lnie on a set ol nmnoersd dale points.
TAPE &{■>: LINEAR PROGRAMMING SPECTRUM £7 96. 2X81 E8 95
Side A A user friendly optimisation program capable of handling all sorts O* linear
programming problems <jmy combination of •:.-.>. eonairairirs and k,<0. -or
<ri.<o stgn constraints!. Features the cannomtal equivalent of the pr-mal, values ol
sJack variables and r.f>e doal Capacity J .no ol vrjruhtes - nu u I const rami k|, lfcK/XSl
TOji 23. 15x20. 20 > 16, 1flK Spectrum. 10* to. 4flK Spectrum. 10x50. 25*40,
50x30
Side a Solutions of simultaneous equations
TAPE 5(b P : PROFESSIONAL LINEAR PROGRAMMING £14,95
Available for 16K ZXB1 and 48* Spectrum with above features plus save daia' and
'change-data' labilities. An v single date entry can be thanocd without la-typing lh B
whole d»U
Cheques payable to:
UNIVERSITY SOFTWARE
29 St Peter's Sir&et
London Ml SJ9
• All ind. prtcfts for tha UK.
Tapes 1 5(af Spectrum £35
ZX81 E30
FOOTBALL POOLS
PROGRAM
The program lists Qui. in order Ol preference, the sixteen most
likely score draws: also the sixteen most likely homes, draws
and aways.
It picks out the results on the bookmakers' FIXED ODDS
coupons mat have been given over-generous odds Calcu-
lates your expected prod! 1
The program will be initialised to the English and Scottish
league tables. You will be able to update these league tables
week by week as results come in — or enter a complete new
set of league tables m other words, me program will never
become out ot date -1
i All programs are recorded on a top quality cassette (usually
Sany) and are accompanied with an instruction leaflet giving a
brief explanation at the iheory
NEW LOW PRICES!
Available for the ZX Spectrum (48K) and the
ZX81 (16K) — now only E6.95
HARTLAND SOFTWARE
(Dept. S), 8 Penzance Place,
London W11 4PA +
At last,
the first joystick
that puts the firing button
where it should have been
In the first piece.
3SbA>^
v
The Top
American
Joystick is
now avaitabie in
the U.K. . . . xfteije
□ne Hind Operation
T°%y°«LSPECTRUM
£ lH.99 +CI.S0P+P
• Including Interface to plug straight into the
Spectrum.
■ The first Joystick to give you "Arcade" feel
and control.
• "Jet Style" heavy duty diamond cut grip,
• Fire Trigger placed under your index finger . , .
the finger with the fastest reflex action,
• Self centreing, 360° action.
• Compatible with most of the latest Software
including:
f!u;,M MmtihUOtt
i " Monte Mtrwr
H Ccotoe
d psssr
Jctriegaie
i 3D Twrvf
I ! Cp«7WJS
I j CyAer flats
£7.^a*iarjar
n Spookfman
I S(ffiperr Sid
U 55 intcrpnat
r\ MteFtttt!
: ] Guipmtn
□ Kong
□ A/itwgmddfrn
G .
At* At**
: I Brain ,
□ Latt Sunset
WetdTWFWl
U GaArawTj
L! ffwfwy
Asirubt&xtet
□ Xaor*»40
i i Sptetm
Jrtmtn
I BbndAttey
J Galactic
frarr.ssm
l Armagetfoofi
txtermmalor
i )rfri r.,^"
NOTE: TlltS IS ONLY A SMALL SELECTION OF THE
MANY COMPATIBLE GAMES
Also available for Commodore/
Atari/ BBC /Oric/ Dragon.
Item
Amount
Spectrum Trjgga Cotinmand
VIC / CBM 64 Trigga Command
Atari Trigga Command
BBC Trigga Command
Oric Trigga Command
Dragon Trigga Command
Interface Unit only"
• To use with your own Joysticks with
Spectrum
f 19.99
f12.»
£12.93
£19 99
£19 99
£14.99
£11.99
N-B AM prices indude Interfaces where requireoj p + p
E 1J0
ALLOW 7 DAYS HlL« iujabjlji
TRADE ENQUIRIES WELCOME
24 MRS CREDIT CARD LINE tL^J ^I^B
Sole UK Distributors
PAT it
ILlCTBOsasci
27 HOPE STREET. HANLEY.
STOKE-ON TRENT
T£L Q782 273815
i
SINCLAIR USER Jbrnidn- 1984
^zoom's rvrr changing scenario offers the mast realist*: 3D flight ew mw on rfic ZX Spectrum
Zzoom rs the ultimate aenal dog-fight the must deadly ground attack rombcrt whi* h separates the
pHots from the mere players! Fly It now from UAH. Smiths, John Menzies. Boots of onr at our
dealers nationwide - it 's 7*iiprr\on*t' - NOME IV l UPf
'JC/ithour doubi the best combat game so Far on the Spectrum"
- Homr Compute* weekly >"
— " " /
5 S* Thomas Street
Uverpod. M«rseyside LI 6BW
I k-dU'i t nqunes Contact
Coir Stokes on 051-236 8100 (20 fines)
HEARING IS BELIEVING
Tele So wd
SPECTRUM BEEP BOOSTER
TELESOUND is ready built and
tested so that you can ge! the
full sound oi your Spectrum
through any unmodified
television set, black and white
or colour. The unit is easy to
fit in minutes without any
previous experience as lull
fitting instructions are
provided.
TtLESGIND has been designed
using the very latest ultra
miniature components so it's
size is an incredible 2 r 1,3 \ 1mm.
and tils Millf lisid* the Spectrum.
Three easy push-on
connections are made to [he
Spectrum. The connections
are clearly shown in a
diagram that comes with
full fitting instructions.
TELESOUND FEATURES
• MMI AND VISION TKETIQ r
■ VOLUME CMTIDLLULE rlOK A «KISFH TO * 10*11
■ KtTUAtD am cumlt mil to assist nociAM E*m
- PIKJlAla CAN K ri [ A R D WHEK SEIHC LOADED ■ HO tOLDC-RINC 01 CASE EFTTINC IEQEI1EA
. IWimDKBL AHPUFIEI HCT NICCSAIT . SEPlUlTt PCill StIPPLT NOT HCfflilJl
■ uses no n pi bit m »«u trrm au pmwak . eonjpatiili with m dtke* »n
IStLUtll'Ht KKIOMIYI
TELESOUND comes complete with easy to follow fitting
instructions and costs £9-96 inclusive of post, packing
etc. Please state your computer when ordering.
COMPUSOUND
E3
DIPT: SUI 32 - 33 LAN CLE ¥ CLOSE, REDD ETCH. WORCESTERSHIRE
m PET. TELEPHONE: (053?) 21420 (21419 AftSwerphoM)
kemp
THE BEST BUSINESS SOFTWARE
ON ANY HOME MICRO
"O/j a large computer system a fife of this
nature would cost between £I5Q-£7Q0. "
Salts Ledger Up to 1200 entries per month
Purchase Ledger
Stock Ledger
Stock Conlrol Unlimited entries
Onfy £ J 4,95 each (48K Spectrum only)
Available at Selfridges, selected Spectrum. C omputers
For All, and all good computer shops.
Nationwide wholesale distribution by Microdealer
U.K. and P.C.S. Distribution.
Kemp Limited, 43 Muswell Hill, London MO 3PN.
Hotline 01 444 5499
ST A CK LIGHT RIFLE
Available for the SPECTRUM, VIC2Q,
and the COMMODORE 64, comes
complete with 12 feef of cable and
three exciting action software games
including "HIGH NOON SHOOTOUT
with full sound effects*
With the development of the SLR
comes the exciting range of
software, RATS & CATS, HIGH
NOON SHOOTOUT, CROW SHOOT,
ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ,
GLORIOUS TWELFTH and BIG
GAME SAFARI.
Ait this for the incredible price of only
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DEALER
OR ORDER DIRECT FROM
Computer Services Limited
290/236 Derby Road. Bootle, Mersey side L20 oLN
Tel Sales 051-9335311 Se rv ic e031-933 33S!
Tetex 627026 ( Stack -G 'i
58
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
SPECTRUM
JOYSTICK
CO QC INCLUDES
13 99 vat p&p
NO INTERFACE
NEEDED
cheque s
ACCESS OR
BARCLAVCAHD
NUMBERS BY POST
FOR FAST DESPATCH
CREDIT CARD HOLDERS MAY
PHONE 0603 870852 FOR
PRIORITY DESPATCH
DIRECTLY
OPERATES THESE
K E VS l^MJ 5g r?o|
TO GIVE PRECISION JOYSTICK CONTROL
★ Essential for Flight-Simulation' and similar games.
★ Increases skill level on games using cursor keys.
★ Speeds graphic plotting and drawing.
* No electrical connections — all rear sockets free.
# Fits and removes in seconds — no tools required.
* No modification needed to Spectrum case or keys,
Tot Grant Design Ltd, Bank House- Reepham, Norfolk.
NR10 4JJ.
Please rush me a Spectrum-Stick Controller I enclose
cheque/P,0. for C9.95 (payable to Grant Design Ltd),
Please charge my access □ Visa [~] Credit card number.
rrn i i i i i i i i
N a me ,,,,,4. ■ , . . * r . rr -.i.
Address
.sij
LJi DC SPECTRUM
tllntZ SOFTWARE
CHOOSE FROM OUR VAST RANGE
FR€E 20 page CATALOGUE with full details of our range or over ISO
afferent programs for the ZX SPECTRUM. W1 hired wtth the consent the
publishers Whether you prefer \o ZAP aliens, gel lost m an adveniure
game EDUCATE your children. CALCULATE the family finances or
COMPILE machine code programs WE HAVE THE RIGHT TAPES FOR
YOU TO HIRE.
FAST SERVICE
We stock several manulacturers original copies of each lape. and can
rof maiiy despatch your u pea the day we receive you r order.and we a Iways
use first class post.
LOWESTPRfCES
We believe our prices are the lowest of any library, yel we oiler the
LARGEST range of lilies TWO WEEKS HIREOF ANY TAPE COSTS JUST
sop (plus 40p pap).
FREE TAPE HIRE
For a iim iteo period, we wiH send your f i rsl lape tyoor choice) FREE r so join
or library now. You can't artord NOT to!" II you've ined anolher library and
are wary of our claims send a stamp and we'll yladly send you a copy ol our
catalogue - we're confident you'll pc*n when you see il 1 "
200 Mglgrave Road.
Cheam, Surrey SMJ6J7
I enclose cheque for £6.00 lor LIFE MEMBERSHIP and I understand 1hat
my first tape hire wi II be FREE. If, within 26 days . I 'm not delighted with your
service you II refund my membership f«.
Name ; .
3MJtTI0HAl
SOFTWARE
II
Address
SIKCLALR 15L.R ?anuar\> 1984
i JSL
48K SPECTRUM ^
spiart
48K SPECTRUM CHALLENGE
FROM INCENTIVE SOFTWARE LTD
MOUNTAINS
OF KET
ADVENTURE
A MONSTER OF AN AOVENTURt
HflOGflAMi COMBAT, INTER-
ACTIVE BEINGS. MDNETAflV
SYSTEM. MAGIC EDGAR. SAVE
LOAD FACILITY PLUS MANY
OTHER FEATURES.
As well as timng j fast ingenious
compelling adveniure in it sell the
Mountains ot Kit is the trrst ol a 3
part series lhai builds iorc a
marrmiDlh adventurers cWbffft
Incentive H could he advent ageous
il vou achieve 10QH"
NC02 fS.SO
1984
A GAME OF
GOVERN HE NT MANAGEMENT
SPLAT!
ARCADE
ONE OF THf MOST ORIGINAL
ANO COMPELLING ARCADE
GAMES EVER PRODUCED'
STARRING ZIPPY"
"SPLAT 1 is one a\ ihe mosl
addiciive games I han* ever pleved
ontr#48K SPECTRUM l( is
certainly the most original
L ampule* & Vrito Games
NOW AVAILARLE FROM tVH SMITH
ANO BOOTS.
NGN I E5.50
1984
THE GAME OF
ECONOMIC SURVIVAL
THE BRITISH ECONOMY WITH TOU
AT THE CONTROLS' WHAT SORT
OF CHANCELLOR WDOLD YOU
MAKE WITH SEVERAL BILLION
POUNDS TO SPEND & FIVE
YEARS TO THE NEXT GENERAL
ELECTION' GRAPHIC OlSPLAYS.
HISTOGRAMS Si AN ANNUAL
PERFORMANCE RATING ARE ALL
INCLUOEDTDSHOW HOW YOU
ARE DOING HOW MANY YEARS
WILL YOU LAST?
FREE INSIDE Pocket Gwde lo
Running Britain" |
N003 E5 50
AH programs run in th*48K ZX SPECTRUM dnrt are available from all
good computer shops In case ot difficulty please order direct using
the coupon below
Please send me Uick box(es) required!
SPLAT □ MOUNTAINS OF KET □ 1984 O
All at f5.50 each i inclusive of VAT and 1st class postage)
I enclose cheque '' P.O. for C or debit my Access Account No
I I I I I ITTT
Name
Address
^--^ INCENTIVE SOFTWARE LTD., 54 London Street.
C ^h J Reading RG1 4SQ Tel: Reading (0734} 531678
59
How Flight Simulation soared
to the top of the charts
In the first of a series on top programmers, Nicole Segre talks to
Charles Davies, the man behind Psion's best-selling game
CHARLES DA VIES, originator
of [he best-selling Psion pro-
Flight Simulation, is
matter-of-fact about the reason for its
success. "There is nothing else as good
of its kind on the market," he says.
Since it was released early last year,
the Spectrum version of the game has
climbed the popularity charts, steadily
holding top position for many weeks.
More than 130,000 copies have been
sold; it was translated recently into
Spanish and is doing well in the States.
"I do not know who our customers
are," says Davits, "but I know that
several squadron leaders have written
saying how much they liked the pro-
gram, including one in Greece who
wants to use it as a teaching aid in his
flying school."
Flight Simulation puts you in the
cockpit of a small aircraft. The lower
half of the screen shows a complete
bank of instrument panels, including
altimeter, fuel gauge, airspeed indicator
and power guage, and the upper half of
the screen shows the view from the
pilot's window.
As you bank, dive or climb, the
horizon moves accordingly, as do the
three-dimensional runway, landmarks
and beacons. Real (light conditions are
reproduced faithfully, down to air-flow,
angles of approach and rate of climb,
and there is a navigational chart to show
your position at any stage of the flight
Even after you have mastered the
complicated set of keys representing the
various controls, piloting the aircraft
from take-ofT to landing without having
a disastrous crash is a difficult task
which takes many hours of practice.
"The game reaches the things a pilot
needs to know — how to move maps in
your head, how to move an aircraft by
banking raiher than turning, how to
climb by increasing power rather than
pointing up the nose, and so on," Da-
vies explains,
The authenticity of Flight Simula-
tion, together with its striking graphics,
were the result of a great deal of hard
work, Davies wrote the original pro-
gram for the ZX-81 and it took him
three months. "Although flight simula-
tion programs existed on mainframe
computers, there was nothing like this
for a micro" he says.
"Everthing had to be worked-out
from first principles, from the aerody-
namics to the perspective and 3-D trans-
formations of the view. It took a great
deal of very complex mathematical
equations to get it correct and I thor-
oughly enjoyed doing it,"
The ZX-81 game proved to be such I
success that the rapidly-expanding
Psion company soon decided to produce
a more elaborate version for the Spec-
trum. "Everybody took part in that,"
says Davies,
One programmer, Luigi Ronchetti,
worked full-time on the project, under
Davies 1 supervision, for more than four
months, and Iot several months after
that eight others took charge of individ-
ual parts of the program. "It took one
person two weeks to design the dials,"
Davies recalls.
Now the director of a company which
employs 35 people, Davies entered
computing via a roundabout route.
Looking much younger than his 29
years, Davies was born in CardifT and
attended a Welsh-speaking comprehen-
sive school near Pontypridd, There he
quickly showed an aptitude for malhc-
mathics and science.
"I was lucky," he says, "since the
staff at the school were all very involved
in the Welsh-speaking cause and conse-
quently deeply-committed to making
the school a success. The quality of the
teaching was excellent. On the other
hand, the science subjects were taught
in English, so I did not learn a great
deal of Welsh;'
After taking mathematics, physics
and chemistry at A level, Davies read
physics at Imperial College, London.
He took a PhD in plasma physics and
stayed to do posi-docrorare research
w r ork at the college. Much of his work
was on computers and in his 11 years at
the college Davies became thoroughly
conversant with Fortran.
His supervisor was David Potter,
who in 1981 did what Davies calls "an
unheard of thing"— resigned his lectur-
eship to start his own company.
Potter, Psion founder and chairman*
had for some time felt disillusioned with
university life. "Funds were being with-
drawn and there was a general waiering-
down of opportunities," Davies
explains, "Anyway, physics has been
going downhill since 1927, the time
when relativity and quantum theories
overturned all the textbooks and created
fireworks all round. Nowadays, things
happen much more slowly,"
Tempted by the challenge of the fast-
developing micro scene, as well as by
the cut and thrust of the business world,
Potter established Psion Computers,
first to export the Acorn Atom and the
ZX-81 to his native South Africa. Soon
afterwards he asked Davies to join him
to start producing micro software. Da-
vies accepted the invitation willingly.
"At the lime, neither of us knew
much about micros," be says, "but we
were computer-literate and our experi-
ence of bigger machines made it easy to
pick things up quickly. We had also
dsed many simulations in our physics
research, which no doubt helped set a
irend for our future software."
Flight Simulation, produced :n a first
timid batch of 250 cassettes in Septem-
ber, 10 81, not only allowed budding
pilots to take to the air but quickly sent
the new company soaring. "Last
month, the factory with which we start-
ed produced 500,000 cassettes for us,"
SJNCl-AIR USfiR January 1984
says Davies. Psion now sells its entire
Spectrum production to Sinclair Re-
search, which deals with all the adver-
tising and distribution of the cassettes.
The arrangement leaves Psion free to
concentrate on creating software, which
is done by a team of 22 full-time pro-
grammers, of whom the youngest is 17
and the oldest 35.
"Vt'e like our programmers to have a
sound mathematical background, >+ says
Davies, 4< but we do not insist on it.
Although training helps to make a good
programmer, some people with very
little education seem to have an in-born
r LiLent for computing and that is good
enough for us."
One thing the whole team has in
common is that they are all what Davie*
calls "keyboard junkies.* 5
''Everyone is getting paid for what
they love doing anyway, so morale in
the company is very high," he says.
At present no new game for the
Spectrum is in hand. Maintenance of
current production is one priority ,
which chiefly means eliminating bugs
which have been discovered and trans-
lating games into other languages for
export. The team is also gearing to
produce software to run on a variety of
machines.
'Tor the last six months we have
been working in C, which we think is
the best and fastest of the high-level
languages. Certainly it is becoming very
popular in computing circles*', Davies
explains. u We do not drive Porsches,"
he adds, "but we program on the raciest
of computers". The aim is to produce
programs in a processor- independent
way and the team works on two VAX
computers, which Davies terms 'super-
minis*, linked to 15 terminals; the pro-
grams are then assembled to run on any
particular smaller machine*
"Writing programs in C makes it
easy to adapt them very quickly to any
computer we like," Davies says.
Although the Spectrum is still top of
the Psion list, the company has its eye
on the BBC micro and the Commodore
64, and also has plans for business
software produced on floppy discs.
u After we have made some progress
on all that," Davies says, "we will
certainly produce a new Spectrum game
but there is no point in bringing-out
anything mediocre because it will not
sell. Our next game has to be something
we can make a song and dance about
and that will take a few months at
least/ 1
Although not an avid games player,
Davies loves writing them. He finds the
skills they require far more interesting
than those needed for serious applica-
tions. He also thinks there is plenty of
life left in the games market and that the
standard of commercially-produced
software will continue to rise.
He predicts that by the spring, when
the traditional post-Christmas lull in
sales takes its full toll, many smaller
companies will be forced from the soft-
ware scene for good.
"People like ourselves have already
built a considerable advantage," Davies
says. "As well as experience and a solid
reputation, we can draw on our software
library resources and we also have a
good deal of excellent and very expens-
ive equipment with which to work. It is
difficult to sec how anyone working
alone in a front room can compete."
Looking further ahead, Davies is con-
vinced that in five years every home will
have a computer, not just to play games
but to keep accounts, file, write and
edit, interact with other databases, car-
ry-out banking transactions and consult
expert systems on anything from child
care to motor mechanics.
"I can see members of a family argu-
ing about who uses the computer in the
same way people argue about which
television channel they want to watch
now," he says.
His confidence in the future is re-
flected in the fact that Psion is soon to
move from the converted factory in a
quiet London mews it occupies to new
premises nearby with space for up to 80
people.
In spite of company expansion, Da-
vies remains as closely involved with
programming and as enthusiastic as
ever. He is at his desk by 8 o'clock in
the morning and admits to being "a bit
of a workaholic* \ Although he once
liked running and playing squash, he
says he now has time for neither, and
has not had a holiday for a long time.
' Luckily my wife has a demanding
career of her own, so she does not mind
my absence too much," he says.
Davies has no regrets about giving up
the security of an academic career for
the pressures of the business world.
"The micro scene is full of excitement
and vitality,*' he says. "There are still a
tremendous amount of new skills and
ideas to develop. This is just the begin-
ning."
apt
drum T
np Ten
Last
Program
Flight Simulation
Lunar Jetman
mnnlti
Company
Memory
1
4
Psion
4nK
2
Ultimate
1 6K
3
Kong
Ocean
MS
4
5
'/.zoom
Ant Attack
Imagine
Quicksi.lv a
48K
4BK
6
Pool
CDS
UK
7
Trans- Am
5
Ultimate
HUE
1
Zip Zap
Imagine
m
9
Bugaboo
Quick nil Yd
Ml
10
Ultimate
m
SINCLAIR USER Jamwry 1984
YOU CANT BEAT THORN EMI'S NEWS
GOLD RUSH
Our new Spectrum games have two
levels. Difficult and impossible.
Unless you happen to
be a genius, it could take
forever to master them all.
So for around £695,
you will really be getting
your money's worth.
"Volcanic Planet" (on
16k) is a real scorcher. Plant
a bomb on the volcanic plug
in the evil Zeron underground Metropolis,
and escape before red hot
lava floods the city. Watch
out for the Zeron's bone
crushing slaves, they want
to tear you apart. If your
oxygen or power supplies
run out you're dead.
In M Road Racer" (on
16k) you'll find out if you're
skilful enough to drive round a ternfymgtrack
at death defying speeds, and
reach the black and white
flag in one piece.
"Gold Rush" (on 16k) is
no walk over either. Under
neath the eerie planet of
Oron is a vast cavern full of
gold and demons.
You have to get the
gold and the deadly demons have to get you.
In "Blockade Runner"
(on 16k) the earth is under
siege and you must get life-
saving supplies through
When youve avoided
the dense meteor shower,
the moving laser barriers,
the space mines, the
tractor beam units and the
alien warships, you'll be good enough to
try the other 5 skill levels
River Rescue "(on 48 k)
is a runaway success on other
formats. It's now available
on Spectrum. You'll have to
navigate the wildest and most
dangerous river on earth in
a powerful patrol-boat. But
keep a sharp look-out for
the killer crocodiles. They haven't eaten all day
Wi njose or draw, you can't beat
THORN EMI's Spectrum games.
Now available from WH Smith and
other leading software stockists.
Leaders in home entertainment
I
ONLY
The Rotronics Portable Case
£34*49
CP+P £2.5D)
Here is the ideal portable work
station for home, school or work.
Specially made for most home
microcomputers, it contains
yourZX81 or Spectrum within
a smart executive style case
with removable fid for convenience
in use.
The individually tailored foam
insert securely protects your
Spectrum Joystick
Interface
Revolutionary design allows
standard (9 pin) joystick to be
used wrth any Spectrum
software Easily programmed in
seconds - no links or cassette
software required £24 45
iP * P 50p)
Speclravfdeo 'Quickshot"
Joystick C9 45 (p + p50p).
ZX Panda
The best I6K RAM for the ZX81
Anti wobble design with LED power indicator
16K Expandable RAM Pack £18.50 (p+p 50p|
16K Plug in Module for above C13 95
(p < p 50p).
32K Giant Panda md uding Module £31 .45
(p + p75p)
micro, printer, cassette recorder,
tapes and manuals during transit.
A scalpel is provided to modify the
insert for expansion units and an
alternative insert can be supplied
if you change your hardware in
the future. The case is also
available with uncut foam inserts.
All components remain fully oper-
ational within the case via inter-
connections routed between the
double fayers of foam, so there are
no unsightly leads.
This is the first case designed for
easy use with each component
positioned for convenient oper-
ation The overall dimensions are
138mm x 700mm x 363mm,
Order Form
Trade Enqumes Welcome
Please send me (tick appropriate box)
□ Rotronics Portable Case at £36.99 (inc. £2.50 p+p)
for ZX81 /Spectrum/Uncut Foam {please delete as necessary}
ZX Panda 16K RAM Pack at £1900 (inc, 50p p+p)
ZX Panda 16K Plug-in Module at £14.45 (inc 50p p + p)
ZX 32K Giant Panda including Module at £32.20 (inc. 75p p + p)
Spectrum Joystick Interface at £24.95 (inc, 50p p+p)
Spectravideo "Quickshot" Joystick at £9.95 (inc. 50p p+p)
All prices inclusive of VAT
I enclose a cheque/PO for £ made payable to SMT
n
□
□
□
□
Name
SMT
Address.
SU IB*
Please allow 28 days lor delivery Send to (no stamp required)
FREE POST Greens Norton Toweester Northants NNt2 BBR
Machine Code =
Using speed and memory
for smooth movements
In the first of a series on machine code programming, John
Kerrigan introduces some Spectrum graphics routines
1WANT to introduce some as-
pects of machine code programming
to relative newcomers to the sub-
ject. For my illustrations 1 will use some
routines for displaying graphics on the
Spectrum screen. Experienced machine
code programmers may find this series
useful if they pass over most of the
explanations and concentrate on using
and adapting the routines.
It is a little more difficult to program
in machine code than in Basic. Where
machine code scores over Basic is its
speed and use of memory. It is possible
to display movmg graphics on The Spec-
trum screen with a Bask program. Most
Basic programs restrict movement to
one area of the screen at a time and then
the movement is by jumps of whole
character positions. In machine code
you can have the effect of a great deal of
movement in several parts of the screen
at apparently the same time and the
movement can be much smoother. In
machine code a figure can be shifted
right, left, up or down by one-eighth of
a character.
The Spectrum screen consists of 24
rows of 32 characters. In Basic, the
screen may appear smaller because the
bottom rows are reserved as edit lines.
In machine code the whole of the screen
is equally usable- Each character is
eight pixels wide and eight scans high.
Thus you can think of the screen as
consisting of 192 scans — 24 rows and
eight scans per row — by 256 pixels —
32 characters and eight pixels per char-
acter width.
Page 164 of the Spectrum manual
explains how the screen memory is
arranged. It says "it is rather curiously
laid out". So it appears to be, so long as
we count the memory addresses in the
normal way to the base 10. It makes
more sense if we count the way machine
code programmers count., to the base
J 6. That system of counting is called
herideeimal, or hex for short. The sys-
tem is identical to normal counting up
to the number nine. Normal numbers
10,1 1, 12 3 13, 14 and 15 are denoted in
hex as AH, BH, CH> DH, EH and FH,
The normal number 16 becomes 10H.
The 'H' after a hex number should
prevent confusion between the two
counting systems*
The Spectrum screen memory makes
4FFFH; sector two runs from 5000H to
57FFH. That means that sector 0 cov-
ers character rows 0 to 1\ sector one
covers character rows 8 to 15; sector
two covers character rows 16 to 23,
'The Spectrum manual says the screen
memory is rather curiously laid out.
So it appears to be so long as we count
the memory addresses in the normal way to
base 10.'
more sense if you express it in hex. The
screen memory starts at the normal
number 16384 which proves to be
4000H and continues until 57FFH, It is
split into three sectors of bOOH address-
es each. Sector 0 runs from 400OH to
47FFH> sector one runs from 4800H to
Typically all literature on machine code
starts any count at the number zero, so,
although it was said that there were 24
rows, the last row has been denoted row
23.
The top scans — scan 0 — of all the
characters ir, a sector are stored in
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
order, then all the scan Is, all the scan
2s and so on until all the scan 7s. That
means that the 23rd character on the
screen has scan 0 at 4016H, scan 1 at
4116H, scan 2 at 4216H, scan 3 at
4316H, scan 4 at 4416H, scan 5 at
4516H, scan 6 at 4616H and scan 7 at
4716H. It can be seen that, counting in
hex, there is a relationship between the
scan numbers and the address.
Each address consists of four hex
digits but each register of the Z-80 chip
can contain only a byte or two hex
digits. So to store an address in Z-80
registers it must be split into two parts.
It must be split into the Most Signifi-
cant Byte and the Least Significant
Byte. The address 4016H would be
split into an MSB of 40H and an LSB
of 16H, The relationship between the
scan numbers and the address is that*
for any individual character as the scan
number increases so the MSB is incre-
mented and the LSB remains the same.
Of course, if we want to make full use
of graphics on the Spectrum screen we
want to think in terms of pixels and
scans rather than characters. We will
need routines to move up a scan, down a
scan ana left and right across the screen.
In figure one there is an assembled
machine code routine to move down a
scan. It has been given the rather unin-
spired title SO. In later articles I will use
SO as part of bigger routines to show
figures on the screen and to shift those
figures in difFerent directions.
The top of figure one above the
double ruled line is headed Specifica-
tions. The specifications should give all
the information we need if, months
after first coding a routine, we wish to
use it in a different or revised program.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION is self-
evident. ON ENTRY tells us what
must be done before we enter the sub-
routine. ON EXIT tells us how to
interpret the results from the subrou-
tines. USES tells us which registers are
used by the subroutine and thus, by
implication, which registers are used by
the subroutine, and thus by implication
which registers are not used. In this
case, if there are values in the Z-80
registers which will be needed after this
subroutine, it would be safe to leave
them in registers B or C but they would
be destroyed if they were left in regis-
ters, A, D, E, H or L.
For anyone who has never seen an
assembled routine previously, the rest
of figure one below the double-ruled
line may look incomprehensible. The
figures in the left -most column are
memory addresses in hex; in the next
left-most column the line numbers for
lines of assembly language. Then there
is a column for labels, if any. That is
followed by the assembly language mne-
monics and then, after a semi colon, are
comments.
The program is the series of hex
numbers in the second column, which
must be placed after the address given
in the first column. The assembly lan-
guage mnemonics are not strictly neces-
sary; they make it easier to write a
machine code program. An assembler
converts the mnemonics into hex num-
bers. It is possible to hand-assemble or
to use an assembler program.
Experienced machine code program-
mers will be able to tackle the logic of
SO and will understand the meaning of
the mnemonics. For the benefit of new-
comers, turn to figure two, which con-
tains the routine SI. SI is simpler,
shorter and less useful than SO. SI fills
Figure 1.
SPECIFICATIONS SO - ZX Spectrum.
GENEHAL DESCRIPTION:
Takes an address in screen memory and returns the address of
the scan immediately below, unless the original address was on the bottom scan ot the
screen.
ON ENTRY: HL must point to an address in the Spectrum screen memory.
ON EXIT: If the entry HL was not on the bottom scan of the screen, then (a) the *ero tlacj
is re-set and (b) the exit t
iL will be one scan below the entry HL. It the entry HL was on
the bottom scan of the screen, Then (a) the zero flag is sei and lb) the exit HL will be the
same as the entry HL.
USES: A r D r E r H, L.
7000
00100
ORG 7000H
7000 7C
001 10 SO LD A,H
;LOAD MSB
7001 E607
00120
AND 7
;TOP 5 BITS NOW ZERO
7003 FE07
00130
CP 7
7005 C AO A 70
00140
JP Z,ENLI
;MUST BE ON BOTTOM SCAN
O0150
■OF CHARACTER LINE
7008 24
ooteo
INC H
jMOVE DOWN 1 SCAN REMAINING
00170
;0N SAME CHARACTER LINE
7009 C9
00180
RET
700 A 7D
00190 ENLI LD A,L
;LOAD LSB
7006 E6E0
00200
AND OEOH
LOWEST 5 BITS NOW ZERO
7O0D FEEO
00210
CP OEOH
7O0F CAT 970
0020
JP Z r ENSE
;MUST BE ON BOTTOM SCAN
00230
;0F SECTOR
7012 11E006
00240
LD DE, O6E0H
7015 A7
00250
AND A
: RESET C FLAG
7016 ED52
00260
SBC HL r DE
7018 C9
00270
RET
7019 7C
00280 ENSE LD A P H
701A FE57
00290
CP 57H
701 C C8
00300
RET Z
;0N LAST SCAN OF SCREEN
701D 112000
00310
LD DE.0020H
7020 19
00320
ADD HL.DE
7021 C9
00330
RET
0000
00340
END
00000 TOTAL ERRORS
ENLI 700A
00190
00140
ENSE 7019
002 SO
00220
SO 7000
00110
Figure 2.
SPECIFICATIONS SI -
ZX Spectrum.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION neurits '.jII mk mto the 1 7th pusmnn «1 The 1 2th row on the
Spectrum screen.
ON ENTRY: No requirements.
ON EXIT: 4870H. 4970H, 4A70H, 4B70H, 4C70H r 4D70H, 4E70H and 4F70H will all
contain FFH.
USES: A, B, H, L.
7000
00100
ORG 7000H
7000 3EFF
001 10 SI LD A r 0FFH
■SET ALL BITS
7002 217048
00120
LD HL.4870H
;MID SPECTRUM SCREEN
7005 0608
00130
LD B.8
;N0 OF SCANS PER CHR
7007 77
00140 RCK LD IHU.A
7008 24
00150
INC H
-DOWN A SCAN
7009 OS
00160
DEC B
70OA C2077O
00170
JP NZ.BCK
;BACK IF FULL CHR NOT PRINTED
70OD C9
00180
RET
; RETURN {IN THIS CASE TO BASIC)
OOOO
00190
END
00000 TOTAL ERRORS
BCK 7007
00140
00170
SI 7000
00110
SfNCI .AIR rST.R January 1984
Machine Code j=
one character position in the centre of
the screen with ink.
The first line starts with the number
7000 which is the start address in hex.
The next column is blank because the
following assembly language is not a
true machine code operation and so the
first line does not tell you to fill address
7000H with any particular number.
The next column contains 00100
which is the first line number of the
assembly language program, The label
column is blank. That is followed by
the assembly language instruction
which is "ORG 7000H". There is no
semi-colon, and no comment, on the
first line. "ORG" is short for origin and
that first instruction tells the assembler
which is the first address to be loaded
with code.
The second line also starts w r ith the
number 7000 which is the start address
in Z-80 code and the Spectrum screen
hex. The next column contains
"3EFF" which is the number in hex
which should be placed in addresses
7000H and 700 1H, 700OH should con-
tain 3EH and 7001 should contain
FFR
The next column contains 00110
which is the second line number of the
assembly language program. The label
column contains the label of the rou-
tine: SI. That is followed by the assem-
bly language instruction; "LD
A,0FFH", After a semi-colon a com-
ment explains that it sets all the bits in
A. "Setting all the bits" means making
all the bits equal 1, In screen memory 1
means ink and 0 means paper. "LD 1 * is
short for load. *'A" is a register on the
LZ-80 chip. FFH, or 255, is the highest
number a byte can contain. *'LD
A } 0FFH" has the effect of placing the
number 255 in the A register.
The third line, assembly Language
program line number 120^ contains the
instruction "LD HL,4870H". Both H
and L are registers on the Z-80 chip.
That instruction will have the effect of
loading 48H into the H register and
70H into the L register. 4870H is the
top scan of the 17th character on the
12th line of the screen.
The fourth line, assembly language
program line number 130, contains the
instruction "LD B,8'\ B is another
register on the Z~80 chip and 8 is the
number of scans in a character.
The fifth line, assembly language
program line number 140, has the sym-
bol :"BCK T> in the symbol column and
contains the instruction "LD (HL),A'\
Brackets around HL mean "contents
of 1 . In other words treat the number in
that register pair as an address and load
that address with the number in the A
register. In this case the first time this
instruction is handled the address
4870H will be loaded with FFH,
The sixth line, assembly language
program line number 150, contains the
seventh and eighth lines of this program
with the instruction DJNZ and you may
have seen that used in some published
programs.
The ninth line, assembly language
program line number 180* contains the
instruction
RE
RET
for
c If we want to make full use of graphics, we
want to think in terms of pixels and scans
rather than characters'
instruction "INC H". That means in-
crement — or add 1 to — the number
held in the H register. The seventh line,
assembly language line number 160
contains the instruction "DEC B".
That means decrement, or subtract 1
from, the number held in the B register.
The eighth tine, assembly language
problem line number 170, contains the
instruction W JP NZ,BCK". »jp» is
short for jump, "NZ" is short for if the
zero flag is not set. "BCK" is the
symbol on the fifth line — program line
140. INCing and DECing single regis-
ters affects the zero flag — in the flag
register on the Z-80 chip — according to
whether the result is zero.
Thus the eighth line is setting-up a
loop similar to a FOR/NEXT loop in
Basic. There is a way of merging the
return. In that case we will make it a
return to Basic,
Figure three contains a Basic pro-
gram which pokes the machine code of
Si into memory and the calls the rou-
tine with RANDOMISE USR 28762.
28762 is the denary, normal counting,
equivalent of 7000H.
Figure 3.
BASIC Program to poke and access S1
10 REM SET STACK BELOW MACHINE
CODE
20 CLEAR 28671
30 REM MACHINE CODE IN DENARY
40 DATA 62,255,33,112.72,6.
8,1 19.36,5.194,7.1 12 r 201
50 REM POKE IT INTO MEMORY
60 FOR A 28672 TO 28685: READ
B: POKE A.B: NEXT A
70 REM TRANSFER CONTROL TO
MACHINE CODE
80 RANDOMISE USR 28672
S [ S t : I A TR I/SKR J* tma rv 1984
ORWIN SOFTWARE:
ZX81 & SPECTRUM
SUPER SOFTWARE AT LOW PRICES
"quantity as well as quality"
Sine fair User, Oct 82
"if each game was on a separate tape and
selling "For £ 5 each I would still recommend
them"
ZX Computing, Oct'Nov '82
"Easy to operate, graphically impressive
and good value for money."
The Times, 1 1th Dec 82
"Definitely good value for money at £6
. . . A smooth clear display and a relatively
fast response from the kevs Graphics are
as good as you will ever got on the 81 . "
What Micro? Nov 83
NEW1 FOR 16K SPECTRUM
gallon
(wilt also run on
CASSETTE A
GHOST GOBBLER
Eat the ghosts before
the ghosts eat you.
Eat a star and you
can chase the ghosts
for a while.
AMENKILL Control lasers, rockets and a
force field to stop the aliens from landing.
MOUSETRAP Trap the mouse in the corner
but not anywhere els«-
flEVERSt A game of skill with simple rules
but sophisticated tactics Play against the
computer.
LASER DEFENCE Control the laser sight to
shoot down the alien ships. Machine code
sound routines.
48 K Spectrum}
Ten programs for £6
TANK BATTLE For 2 players simultaneous
ly or play against the computer Each play
er has 2 rotate controls and move and fire
controls. The tanks fire steerable missile^
PHOEBUS A puzzle
BLACKSPOT Gobble the stars and avoid
running into black spots created by cross
ing your own path
CUBE Manipulate a
2*2*2 to 7*7*7.
MINEFIELD Collect
avoiding the mines
fence.
cube any size Irom
the
and
crowns while
the electrified
plus an extra ,
GRAPHIC DEMO Did you know your Spec
trum could do all this 1 ?
CASSETTE 1. eleven pro
grams jmcluding 7 in machine
code*
tor 1K ZX81 £3 80
CASSETTE
Basic
2. ten games in
for 16K ZX81
E5
CASSETTE 3, eighi programs
I including 1 in machine code!
for 16K 2X81
£5
CASSETTE 4
ZX SCRAMBLE (machine code) with 3 stages.
Bomb and shoot your way through the fortified caves.
8 games for 16k ZX81 E6
GUNFIGHT
(machine code)
INVADERS
I machine code}
, fSlf-giS^H^&S^^^** GALAXY INVADERS (machine code)
-5F££SF S e ?L?T«LR S SND E ?6uB 0 nis&ia. Fleets ol swooping and diving alien craft to fight off.
:^E*^" flNTI - FUMeus *° H * SNAKEBITE (machine code)
Eal the snake before it eats you Variable speed, (very fast at top speed).
LIFE (machine codel
A ZX81 version of the well known game.
3D TIC TAC-TOE (Basic)
Played on a 4- x 4 * 4 board, this is a game for the brain, It is very hard to
beat the computer at it.
lames are in machine code, because this is much faster than Basic (Some of these games were previously available form
J Steadmanl
BYTE-MAN (machine code)
[previously available from Mindseyel
CASSETTE 5 8 games for 1 6k ZX81
BREAKOUT (machine code)
£6
SPACE RESCUE (machine code I
Ipreviously available from Mindseyel
BLITZ (machine cocJhi
PLANETOIDS (machine coder
Rotate, move, fire and hyperspace controls.
Wide range of choice of speed and difficulty
DODGEMS (machine code)
Dodge the computer's ear while eating the
dots,
DRAUGHTS (machine code*
1 nryiH sk ill levels
MERCHANT (Basic)
Make your fortune on trading voyages in the
Mediterranean and beyond.
7 of the 8 games are in machine code because it is much faster than Bask
"New palish on old fa-
vtvuntn
1h« quail! y ol Itl* totl
tfvwe and lha amoulh
lion diiptav* created on
ine screen mpko the pro
grams. worrit while lor any
one who ha» | IX fl l arwJ
pl*v» games usmgi it
H i* plnwfil to ui
thai Or win's kind of qua I
i| y ik again
S*pr 63
' 'Among I ha best i*>
vtBVM«d was Casseita 5
from Orwin So'twa** Fof
« main £6, you get fiiflh!
(op-quAUtv (tames
All 1h«i gamei ma of very
high quality and would
com £4 or f 5 rf wW wp*
ratal* Many ol The
other rottwarn house*
could M#m a lasiun Irom
these."
Games Supplorrwnl.
Nov 83
Kte.tiiber of the
Cii<WfHftiW Trade
Please make your cheques payable to ORWIN SOFTWARE
ORWIN SOFTWARE Dept OSU 26 Brownlgw Road, Harlesden. London NW10 BQL,
ZX81 and SPECTRUM SOFTWARE WANTED (Royalties or
t right)
Trans
CBStl
$0S 4362
SINCLAIR U5F.R January 1984
Extend your 16k
Spectrum to 48k for
just£23O0.
And get a Free
program worth£4*50
into the
bargain
SP4&. 32K Memory Extension with Program - £23.00
Now. our SP48 offers even better value
Because now. were not only offering, you the facility to up-grade your
16K Spectrum to 4>iK_ we're abo offering you the opportunity to be able to utilise
this vastly extended memory quickly and easily.
For £23 all you need lo do is plug the chip-set into the sockets provided
by Sinclair on your issue 2 (or £35 for issue 1 ) and you have a standard 4SK
Spectrum fully compatible with all Sinclair add ons and very kw in power
consumption.
There is no soldering required
Fitting and removal are easy
And the 5P48 carries our full warranty and is upgradable, on a part
exchange basis, to SP80
Then all you need to do is LOAD our specially written 48K guide
program. 'Beyond Horizons, and your 48K computer will guide you through its
memory
Wrth no need to labour through manual.
Is the manual past chapter 24 a mystery m you? 'Beyond Horizons'
shows 48K Spectrum users h< iu n ■ 1*1 1 K rind \*i >KI systems
variables, how to manipulate I he display file, how menmn tithe
attributes, how to find out how much spare memory N W much,
murh more. With the this program is free. On its own, £4.50,
retained, and sound is still available using BF.EP Cassette handling routine*
art afcso included
48/80 FORTH includes a serparaie FORTH editor which uses part o\
HAM as if it were disc The 48K version allows a 16K "RAM disc . and the
80K version a massive 32K "RAM disc'"
48/80 FORTH comes with a comprehensive user manual covering
both compiler and editor.
ZX Slowloader - £10
This classic piece of software loads ZXS 1 BASIC programs and
arrays straighl onto your Spectrum, ready for SAVEing and EDITing It can
do in a few minutes what would normally take weeks of keyboard rime,
I All products on this, order form are in Mock at the time of going to press Same day dtspaTch
| lor phoned Access, and Vtsa orders.
| To East London Robotics Ltd Please send bv return (tick iiems required I
memory maps
SP8Q Pa g ed Memor y Extension — £46
This ingenious device gives a 16K ispectmm two memory banks of
3ZK each and a massive total of 80K of RAM
It can be used as a siandard 4SK machine, but pages can be
switched by software instructions within your program The SPS0 is not
recommended for absolute beginners unless used wilh 48/80 FORTH
Fitting, power consumption and Sinclair add on compatibility are
identical to the SP48
Fit and Test service ai our premises £3, by registered post £7
4R/80 FORTH - £14.95
| D SF481 Issue 1E35H Issue 2 E231
CD SPK!l]*uelS30>l!ssue2E46f
| CD SLOWLGADERE10
- D "BEYOND HORIZONS" program £4-541
| □ 4H/80 KORTH £14 95
. FbsbsyeO.CiBp I enclose acheque POior
I ll 1 I I I I I I I I I
JUhi
Name
Address.
This new f'QRTH
the latest, best and most
version of FIG FORTH for ihe Spectrum. Each tape includes both
version And an 80K version. (Don't forget that an SP48 can be part
exchanged for an SPW0|
48.- K0 FORTH gives you the speed of machine code with the
programming simplicity of BASIC, and is ideal for games -wniing. Unlike
other FORTH version*, all the Spectrum's excellent graphics commands are
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
I Easi London Ruboto Lid . Gate llRoyalAJbertt>ock.L*^kinr.ln
1 24 Hour Information Service _ _ —
ia qi47i 33oa EAST LONDON
24Hout Information Service
lei: til 471 :VXIR
24 Hour Access ami Visa ordennt
Tel: 01 474 4715
uint»:TeH>1474443
Tele* H81:
lquin
3271
nWEETISS
69
Doric Computer Services
^ ^^1^ M^^A^ AN AMAZING NEW
fill ^/ 4 f% W ADVENTURE GAME
■ ■ %y*MlJ^% WITH ANIMATED
■ mW I GRAPHICS
y^|^fl| FEATURING:-
m
A completely new cave layout,
monster position and event
sequence generated for every
game.
A time Limit of 5 days' on
every adventure.
Continuously displayed high
resolution graphics and text.
• All monsters, articles and
locations depicted to a level of
detail that pushes SPECTRUM
graphics to the limit,
'The closest yet to a true
animated graphic adventure...
excellent value for money "
POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY,
Some basic steps to storing
Forth variables
Continuing his programming series, John Gilbert points out a few
similarities between Forth and Basic
I IN THE LAST few months we
have been looking at the differences
between Forth and other languages.
This month we will look at the similari-
ties between it and Basic and also give
ZX-81 owners some good news.
First, though, we look at the way in
which variables can be stored in the
Forth system. As usual there are some
differences from Basic and in this case
the representation of numbers using
machine code will provide an excellent
route to the understanding of how varia-
bles can be used.
It is not necessary to know much
about machine code to understand what
is happening in the Forth stack when a
variable is created but if you can follow
the arguments about numbers you
should have a better idea of what is
happening.
The POKE statement in Basic stores
a 16-bit number in a memory location.
An 8-bit number can be anything from
0 to 255 in decimal or 00 to FF in
hexadecimal. A 16-bit number is a mul-
tiple of the first 8-bit number. It can
range from 0000 to FFFF in hexadeci-
mal.
To enter a 16-bit number on to the
Forth stack as a variable we have to use
a Forth dictionary word to define it.
The word is:
VARIABLE
and the value of the variable goes before
it and its name follows it.
To create a variable called VARS and
enter the number 50 the following line
could be used:
50 VARIABLE VARS
There must be a space between the
50 and VARIABLE and between
VARIABLE and VARS,
If you press ENTER, your variable
will be stored by the system. T he value
is not stored necessarily on the stack but
the memory address at which it is stored
goes on to it. When you ask for the
value of the variable you have created,
its address is on the stack and can be
used as an index to the value which is
being stored elsewhere.
It is similar to the way in which Basic
variables seem to operate for the user
where the variable name, in this case
VARS, is used as an index to represent a
value, which is 50 in this case.
To get back the value of the variable
we will need a new Forth symbol which
means, for our purposes, Fetch. It is
symbolised with an sign. To get
back the 50, using the VARS name as
an index, all you have to type is the
variable name, together with Fetch and
the printing dot. All three symbols have
spaces between them:
VARS @
The screen display should then in-
clude
50 ok
As an extension of the variable tech-
nique, it is possible to create what in
Basic would be called an array. For
those with little knowledge of that type
of data structure, an array is a table or
list of values which are indexed, or
named using one 'overall 1 label and a
distinct index number for each of the
elements. For instance, we could give
our example array the name VALUES,
tell the computer it contains 10 ele-
ments, and then number each of them
from one to 10.
First we would need to clear space in
the Forth dictionary, into which we will
put our values. When a numeric array is
dimensioned in Basic, the system gives
each element the value of zero. For our
purposes and, just to be awkward, we
will give our array the initial value of
one.
To do so we will have to use another
new Forth word called ALLOT which
has the function of giving the specified
number of elements to our array. The
line to dimension the array is:
1 VARIABLE VALUE 10 ALLOT
That should be followed by ENTER.
Taking the line apart, the number *1*
is the initial value given to the array;
VARIABLE will allocate a variable
space for the array; VALUE is the name
of our array and 10 is the number of
elements in it.
Each of the elements is one byte long
and so it is not possible to hold one
number in each one. We have to pair
those 8-bit bytes into 16-bit words to
store our 16-bit values. That means we
can store up to six values in our array.
If you thought that creating a vari-
able was difficult and you did not like
the idea of indexing and machine code
addresses, you will be pleased to learn
that there is another way of creating an
integer variable, or one which docs not
contain a decimal point. Using the fol-
lowing technique, the computer will
put the value of the variable and not its
storage address on to the stack.
As with all Forth words, the value of
our variable is put first on to the defin-
ing line. That is followed by the dictio-
nary word, CONSTANT. This word
tells the computer thai vou warn to
assign a value which has been put on to
the stack with a label, just as would
happen in Basic. Following this defi-
amunutii ox pogr 72
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
71
nition we must put the name of the
label, which we will call DEF:
50 CONSTANT DEF
After you have pressed ENTER you
can refer to that value on the stack by
the name DEF.
In a previous article in the series, I
discussed ways of creating and editing
screens of information and the way in
which they can be SAVEd on to cassette
for later recall. At that stage I omitted to
explain how to SAVE dictionaries you
have created until you understood more
of the basic structures of the language.
When you have made your own
Forth words the dictionary is termed to
be extended and so SAVE in g is more
difficult than if you had an original,
untouched, dictionary.
First we have to find the total length
of the dictionary and wc do that by
typing:
SIZE
It is then necessary, with Abersoft
Forth, to change the values for the
operation of the cold start into Forth.
That is done by typing-in the code
which is listed on page eight of the
manual.
You must then return to Basic and
change the bootstrap loader program to
give the number of bytes used by the
dictionary and then add 10 to it. You
can then SAVE the new version of
Forth by GOing TO line nine. In the
introduction, 1 promised owners of ZX-
81s who are also Forth followers that I
had some good news. A company is
producing a ROM chip for the machine
which can be fitted internally and will
give the humble ZX-81 the capabilities
of, say, the Jupiter Ace. The only prob-
lem is that once the ROM is fitted
Forth becomes the origin language and
it will be available on pow r er-up.
The software gives access to a full-
screen editor, on to which you can enter
£ The value of our
variable is put first on
to the defining line 1
code in the top half ol the ZX-81 screen
and a console, immediate access, screen
in the bottom half into which you can
type words for immediate compilation.
The editor will enable you to save both
lines and whole screens of definitions.
The ROM is Fig-Forth standard but
some changes have been made to make
it more memory-efficient. The user will
have none of the difficulties inherent in
the other cassette-based packages which
are available for the Spectrum and ZX-
81. SAVEing both screens and dictio-
naries is easy and, because of the full-
screen editor, word definition could not
be much easier.
If that was not sufficient the package
will also perform multi-tasking, which
means that the machine will seem to do
several things at the same time.
Those who own Spectrums may feel
overlooked but a Spectrum ROM car-
tridge is on the way.
For more information about both de-
vices, you can write to David Husband,
2 Goriest one Road, Branksome, Poole,
BH1 NW. He can also be reached on
the telephone between the hours of 7pm
and 8pm on 0202 764724 from Jvlonday
to Saturday.
Users of the more usual cassette-
based packages will be pleased to learn
that companies producing them are
thinking about implementing micro-
wave storage commands in the lan-
guage.
That will give the language some
kind of comparison with the disc-based
Forth compilers on bigger machines
and it will also deal with criticisms
voiced about the limited use of Forth on
a microcomputer because of storage
problems.
Next month I will look in more detail
at the Forth ROM and delve further
into data structures.
TASWORD TWO THE WORD PROCESSOR
64 CHARACTERS PER LINE ON THE SCREEN AND TO PRINTERS!
MICRODRIVE COMPATIBLE — instructions supplied
TASWORD TWO The Word Processor
Your Spectrum becomes a professional word processor
with TASWORD TWO. TASWORD TWO gives you an amazing
64 characters per line on your screen. This is ideal for standard
A4 paper and TASWORD TWO prints your text just as it
appears on your screen,
Tasword Two drtves the following interfaces:
Cobra RS232 tiO Port Kempston interface
Euroetectronics interface Morex Interface
Hiiderbay interface Tasman interface
Sinclair ZX Interface 1
The same program drives these interfaces, A short easy to fol-
low set of instructions takes you through setting up your Tas-
word Two to drive the interface you have or choose to buy.
Tasword Two also drives the ZX printer,
£1 3-90 fully inclusive mail order price.
TASWORD TWO TUTOR
TASWORD TWO comes complete with a manual and a
cassette, The cassette contains your TASWORD TWO and
TASWORD TWO TUTOR. This teaches you word processing
using TASWORD TWO. Whether you have serious applications
or simply want to learn about word processing r TASWORD
TWO and TASWORD TWO TUTOR make it easy and enjoyable.
TASWORD TWO £2 Demonstration Cassette
See for yourself the powerful features of TASWORD TWO.
Send just £2 for the Tasword Two demonstration cassette A
voucher is included which gives you €1 off the price of
TASWORD TWO.
TASWIDE - 64 characters per line!
A machine code utility program, TASWIDE doubles the*
information that your own programs can display. Make a
simple change to your print statements and your output
appears on the screen at 64 characters per line instead of the
normal 32. Both print sizes can be mixed on the screen. 16K
and 48K versions supplied on the same cassette.
£5-50 fully inclusive mail order price
TASMAN PRINTER INTERFACE
Plug into your Spectrum and drive any printer fitted with the
Centronics standard parallel interface. Supplied complete
with ribbon cable, connectors, and driving software. The
cassette includes LLIST, LPR1NT, and text screen copy
software for all Centronics printers and fast machine code
high resolution screen copy software for Epson, Star,
Seikosha, and Tandy Colour Graphic |in colour! ) printers
Send s.a.e for sample prim-outs and full list of printers sup-
ported by screen software-
s' 45 lolly inclusive mail order price
All prices include VAT and post and packaging
TASMAN SOFTWARE
Dop4SU
17 HARTLEY CRESCENT LEEDS LS6 2LL
Send cheqiiB-P.Q. or Access number Mfttfc order
Telephone Access orders. Leeds 10632 [433301
SOUND with SINCLAIR
f
MAKE AMAZING SOUND EFFECTS
WITH YOUR ZX 81,
TIMEX Sinclair 1000
or SPECTRUM
THE ZON X
j* £25.95
■ Tn* ZQfc X SOUND UMIT m i.impkie#v ae«1 comtuvd arid ewaasv
dn'qned 1cjr us? Wlf' ini» JTX^II TlMFX ^inrljn 1000 ■vwH Spectrum
CompijFJJfK II iiAl pl.ii{S " mj disandnlling ui buMfrinij
Nenlwrrti pach. bun*"**. In** fx nrt*ei extras 1
* ManurH Vofcime Coning on f»r*l jmtrte nolumn (ram bu*t m loud
sped**
Standard Swirtii Ifi*. RampdCfc or prmw cjin h*> plugrjnd iniaZON A
5cruntf Unit wirtv*n Affectum r»o»Fnal corn purer ope* jCton
+ Huge rjngje potsi*** SQu"oa-10» Gam€*. Mu**\ HrlicDpHifs, Sa F>
Spa« IfwwJwb. Enptoww. Guoihaii. Drums PWmeu. Lan*»,
r>n*n* 0(rtH. Turin Chords, etc . ur whalevc fOU devtM'
4 aiullrx:ul«» U^3-Cha(Mi*wondcNpr^w^prwarlirrpl!COriirf3iot
pUuh. % totih nnd naise all wilh e«rw*top*CWIlHJl.
■ EHily *rtrttd to tfKiitiriQ gjttfs. Oi u*0«jr*fnrfi« umng a row simplr
BASIC ' wes. c« rvhH-hirie code
* fa> moment md&^OBt used I 0. »Hfl(ip*-1
FULL irntr.jcr.iD'** fri\t> it^iiiv ^i^aitR*. iir hrn* :d :ti.ii" !i and 1he
pfogrr*rtiHi#». JmOtfliWl Fvilly guaranteed British Wji.1i;
'(tempi \\>th Spett'wn yuo "ffrtf N»* Sfl*CPl/m f *&ns<an Bmird Qrdw Na
set - f**rrs X>*>& V A T
PavnVni iTbtv b+ rn#H» by f hoquu PO Gno No 388
P(WH Order « C'edit Cord
Eaporl order*' - flan*. CNkju* Inmnatorrtl Money Order
U.S * <K f Swung
BE A TOP SOCCER TACTICIAN IN THE
SUPer lfagUE
Futl 1 1-a-side match action
Scale 90-minute game
On-screen commentary showing current
scofe, name of player in possession
time pfayed
Individual player skills
Fyll 22-team League
4 2- match season
League table and results on screen and
printer
Save season to date on tape
FOR USE 0N4BK SPECTRUM
V
To order SUPER- LEAGUE, please send cheque/
RO. value C6-SO payable to CROSS SOFTWARE,
36 Langford Crescent, Elarnet T Herts 1 EN4 9EH
BhPAK
hpuSUI.PO hgil
B3( High Sttaal
Win, HpM
'Ring 0S20 Iqi
ImnMdMflMlpOiCrt
ADVENTURE
4SK SINCLAIR ZX SPECTRUM
GAMES
You are a Kn#* of Camclot,
marching for Merlin's kwt
treasure, On your way you
will discover the Will Ik.-,"
lower, rescue a Princess
held bv itie wicked Wizard
.,i rrili £5.«
You discover live entrance
to an ancicnl pyramid
blocked by a rock. Once
inside, you discover fire
rooms, ice rooms and
other traps set by the
builders to protect the
Pharaoh. £4,95
A rope a hove a rock fissure
is the only way into this
Magic Mountain, or is it?
legends tell of vast stores
of treasure but also of
poisonous spiders, lizards
and magic at work. £4.95
Send SAE lor full list.
You arc Spec trasses,
tattling in the arena with
Gorgon* whose stare can
turn you to stone. To
recover the lost chalice,
you must also win ■
sword Tight with
inside his cave.
Grang,
To find the Black Planet you
need 7 pieces of the key each
hidden on different pbneb,
and require liillercnt pus
to be wived. On the
journey, you light off the
pir;i^ who get siciitJiU
more desparate. £5.95
Dept B FREEPOST EM463 (No stamp)
PUTPPQ A Q^nfT A r ri7C I72 Kingston Road, EwelJ T Surrey KT19 0BR
rnirXL) /lOJU^iAlljkJ Telephone 01-393 0283.24 Hour answering.
Prices indude postage (outside Europe add £ 1 .00 per item). Ac c ess and Visa c ards welcome
74
SINCLAIR USER January 1 9*4
310 STREATHAM HIGH ROAD, LONDON SW16 6HG
Tel: [P /fi9 2887
Open Tues-Sat 10,30 am to 5,30 pm (Closed Mondays)
SOFTWARE FROM ALL THE BEST SUPPLIERS —
OVER THE COUNTER PLUS GROWING RANGE
OF PERIPHERALS. SEE IT N TRY IT BEFORE YOU
BUY IT,
SAE appreciated for catalogue- but please specify
for which computer.
Oft^ON ZX 81 ZX SPf CTRUM
THE WORLD S GREATEST RANGE OF
SINCLAIR SOFTWARE
PIONEERS IN 1981 -WAY AHEAD TODAY
NEW! -BUFFER CLUB for regular customers.
Special Offers — Lectures — Foreign Trips —
Software Promotions. Ask for details of member-
ship on your next visit.
Mf WBEfi OF THE COMPUTER TRADE ASSOCIATIDN-YOUR FAIR GfcAL GUAHAMTf F
c
VISA ACCESS AMERICAN EXPRESS -DINERS CLUB
ALL CARDS WELCOME
ZX Spectrum
keyboard
The
professional
touch!
The TRANSFORM keyboard - transforms
your ZX Spectrum into a fully-operational
professional machine, With this keyboard you
can use your Spectrum for alt your business needs -
everything from accountancy to word processing.
Will incorporate micro-drive, Centronics
interface and power supply
59 keys including full sized space bar
Large Enter key
Numeric pad
Emode key
Decimal point key on both numeric
pad and keyboard
On/off switch with LED
Easy instafiation - no soldering
For fast delivery send your cheque or P.O. today
mmm
TRANSFORM Ltd, 41 Keats House,
Porchester Mead, Beckenham, Ker
£69.95
+£2 p&p
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
75
The Hobbit. Now the best is
After a very short time I found that The
Hobbrt' was becoming almost a way of life
rather than a game, and so when I finished it
tor the first time I was parity sad because I
telt that all the fun and adventure had
ended, but 1 was wrong, Even now I am
discovering new things about the game and
feel that it will be some time until all of its
secrets are revealed to me.'*
MR J STERN, Herti
"I have at last received your Hobbit'
program and would like to congratulate you
on its excellence. After four days of sweat
and tears I have completed only 37 .5 per
cent of the adventure. The program has lived
up completely to expectations, and there 15
no doubt about it being the best production
tor the Spectrum to datejJfou have
s u r pa ssed a 1 1 ot h ( • ...■ ^^^ ru^ram . >i
'A lot of fun."
COM PUT
The excellent gra
The exciting differ
is that it is possibf
converse with all t
meet and ask thei
recommend this £
Tolkien,, or novel <
POPULAR COM
"I am writing to ccj
'Hobbit' I think it
"One new Adventure game stands head
and shoulders above the rest. It alone
almost provides you with a good enough
reason to buy a 48K Sinclair Spectrum Not
only does The Hobbit produce drawings of
the main scenes, but it also understands
proper sentences rather than pairs of words
tor its commands. It comes with a copy of
J.R.R, Tolkien's classic book of the same
name. It Is the program with the most
detailed and best written documentation
ever,"
WHAT MICRO
"This is an impressively packaged
Adventure game which makes good use of
the Spectrum's colour graphics They have
not only produced one of the best games for
the Spectrum, but given everyone else
lesson in good gajyre design.
IRACTICALCOk
"I am the owner ol a copy of The Hobbit'
which is wonderful entertainment, and very
challenging. I have other tapes and
publications of yours, all of which are
excellent."
MR. D.J. BURGH, Kent
"Having rece i ved t he most excel lent piece of
programming I have ever seen, we have had
no social life whatsoever. The Hobbit' has
been dominating our I ives since January and
many nights have been spent until 3 o'clock
trying to conquer it/'
5IM0N ROGERS, Avon
I have recently purchased your excellej
adventure
greatly en
graphics, itsavailabihty^
ha^
"The most powerful computer game yet
invented "
COMPUTER WEEKLY
Within my circle of friends this game has
become something of an obsession. We
meet every Friday night at someone's house
and spend 3-4 hours on The Hobbit'. Friday
night would not be the same without The
CHRISTINE VERCHILD, Wilts
Melbourne House
available for:
"In my software library, your program The
Hobbit" takes first place.''
DAVID MAXWELL, London
fwner of your excel le
ib it' and have a
[EN CAS5IDY, Essex
y purchased a Sinclair
44
St me congratulate you on a
" MR. K. REID AND CLASS 7,
Nottingham
an f*xoerience than a
POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY
(telv ordinary English sentences The
ZX COMPUTING
:hased The Hobbit' not long ago and
44
44
44
worth every penny of the purchase
MRS, i. RYCRAFT, Northampton
The Hobbit 1 la a beautifully con-
structed, frantic ally- maddening,
tortuous, gloriously inconsistent,
thoroughly spooky adventure - far
batter than I could have hoped for and
certainly the finest of the dozen or so
adventure programs I have. In short, I
congratulate the four who sweated for
a year and a half to concoct such a
super result."
MR PETRH JONES, South Glaro
Nothing is certain in this Adven-
ture, but uncertainty! Add to this the
brilliant graphics that are used to
describe many of the locations and we
have an Adventure that is going to
become a classic for the Spectrum.
PQ PU LAB COM PUT! NO WEEKLY
I am writing to congratulate you on
your excellent program "The Hobbit 1
for the Spectrum. 1 wake up In the
middle of the night with an idea and
have to load the adventure to try It
MR PHI LUP DARLING. Suffolk
A most Impressive package.
DAILY EXPRKSS
...we are not eating food... we
are losing sleep... and it's great I 1
reckon you can guess why. We are lost,
completely and utterly lost, in the
Hobbit program "
MR JOHN HARRIS, Hawaii
...one of the moat complex games for
the Sinclair machines I have seen..,"
SINCLAIR USER
adventures in,
/entures "
o me as all 1 talk about is my
DAVID ROWLEY. Stoke-on-Trent
aphics is one ot the features
nension to the Adventure, It is ■
rvellousgame, which should
MM I W I
ZX COMPUTING
IT J
Orders to:
Melbourne House Publishers
131 Trafalgar Road
Greenwich, London SElO
Correspondence to:
Melbourne House
Church Yard
Tring
Hertfordshire HP23 SLU
All Melbourne House cassette software is
unconditionally guaranteed against
malfunction.
Trade enquiries welcome.
□ Please send me your free 48 page
catalogue.
Please send me:
SPECTRUM
□ Spectrum "The Hobbit'' 4SK
C Penetf ator 48K i
□ Terror -Dahtil 4D 45JK
□ Mel bourne Draw ,
G HU.R.G
□ Aber$ott Forth
□ Computer Bridge -
COMMODORE &4
□ Commodore 64 'The HobM'
□ Commodore 64 Hungry Horaee
DRAGON 3?
□ Dragon 32 Hungry Horace
BBC
C B8C "The Hobbii"
ORIC I
□ Ork 1 "The Hotbrt" 4&K
All versions of "The Hobbit" are
identical with regard to the
adventure program, Due to memory
limitations, BBC cassette version
does not include graphics
£14.95
E6 95
£8 95
£14.95
£14.95
. £8.95
£1495
i:5 35
. £5 95
mis
£14 95
Please add 80p for post and pac k £ , . .-fl
TOTAL £
I enclose my □ cheque
□ money order lor £ « , , .
Please debit my Access card No
Expiry Date
Signature
Name .
Address . .
Postcode
Access orders can be
telephoned through on our
24-hour ansafone (01)858 7397
SLHJ
c
NEW? THE iX SPECTRUM DESK CONSOLE: FROM TTl
Flexibility for
Spectrum
56- way I.D.C. connector and ribbon cable
assembly, designed and manufactured by
Vareico in conjunction with CPS. Ltd., to fit the
Sinclair Spectrum computer.
Available in both single and double end format,
Also available, paddle board to convert female
connector to male plug format
Please send me the following;
6" grey cable with £8 99
connector each end each
9' grey cable with £9.49
connector each end each
insert Quanlily
9* colour coded cable
with one connector
12" colour coded cable
with one connector
Paddle board for conversion
to male plug format
Prices include VAT and Post & Packing
I enclose cheque/PO value £
Block capitals please
Name
Address
£5.99
each
£6.49
each
£1.99
each
County
Town
Postcode
it paying by Access ercler number here
DDDD DDDD DDDD DODO
Available from:
Hawnt Electronics Limited
Firs wood Road, Garratts Green,
Birmingham B33 OTQ
ftea •nErtflanrJNC. 3D5808
f\ MfM-THUH DESK CONSOLE
Ebe ta\Mm m :
■ ZX SPECTRUM COMPUTE*
* TOWER UNIT
* SINCLAIR PRINTER
* RS US INTERFACE!
JOYSTICK. CONTROE
MMTRODRJ VF.S it \
' tSSETTE KlitlKmg
r2?5mm itt*p t, 1 40mm wide *p(in,» j
Cmnale nuiuMlfl* JH kmty t*>t* M*cfc piirxd ABS pfcitr,, . *,il, ikHthiWe bur com uni rwndip r*ri
Swilrfi pmrl villi three fouluin J.,!- ^ i. i, >,., *AVl- ,'RUN LIST US4() V(-MtY < TU |)htni umiMd ir
putt lo M^iif rniitilri an.l . i-mrutcrl- Switi.li for 1-viH r""»rrgnil OS.fil I III- indicator r<v V*eU
power ON. Opbcirul nclr*v itMlflft pflhn, ttfl PVC dust carer
DirnniWHii SSSmm wide ic 370mm anr\- • MJinm nav hc«h1 ^rrrtw
S !„,-■;•! ik *eifht; I S kf. ihirnunfi dkfn*ni.ftnm. »T5rtnn a *0Omm r 60mm jpprot
rW IJ4S0*li1iVAT*«.50p4 P <LJIt» TOTAU MMHtltk
Send your n«jne *n.l feUftra (Mix* carnUd* rilease^ with* clwtjut nr f <H ,in|> lo
TRAFFH TK HNOLOGV UNITED. FO BOV 3 t WARNWSTtJI . WILTSHIRE. BA 12 KfX
All «den*cr.iiciwhedpd, pltw ilRw 2« dayi lot ifarlnery
ULTIMATE
BUSINESS
PROGRAM WILL PREPARE
INVOICES, DAY BOOK, STOCK CONTROL
STATEMENTS, ADVICE NOTES. GROSS CONTRIBUTION
FOR ZOO ACCOUNTS & 1.000 LINES OF STOCK
This one clever program will prepare advice notes and invoices with
account name and address, stock description. V A T. and discounts by-
entering customer number, stock numbers, and quantities. A facility
exists to deal with non standard accounts and stock items- Cheques
received can be entered allowing statements to be produced detailing
invoice numbers, cheques and total outstanding This allows a close
check to be kept On account balan^s
Slock totals are automatically changed when irtvoiumg or raising
credits and stock can be added or subtracted el random. Alt of this plus
more allows the business men to obtain Mu- «s*uu( in form all on
requires at the touch of a button.
SHOPKEEPERS SAVIOUR
CONTROLS & PAIGES UP TO 2,000 LINES OF STOCK
RETAILERS ASK YOURSELF THIS
"ARE YOUR STAFF HONEST"? "SURE"?
Put a hall to tbtrse doubts with this superb stock control program. It will
give you the advantage of knowing exactly what slock you should
have, its value and the deilv gross contribution. You simply enter stock
numbers and quantities and the Spectrum will act like an electronic
cash register It will also prepare price tickets with stock numbers if
requited,
ULTIMATE BUSINESS F14.95. SHOPKEEPERS SAVIOUR £14.95.
BOTH FOP £25
SEND CASH P.O. OR CHEQUE ro McNEJL SOFTWARE
35 CASTLE HILL DR.. NEWTON MEAFNS. GLASGOW
TRADE ENQUIRIES WELCOME
7&
SINCLATR USE* January 1984
Instructions for graphics characters are primed in lower-Law: Inicrs in uur
istings. They are enclosed by bracked and separated by colons to
distinguish them and the brackets and colons should nor be entered
Inverse characters are represented by the letter 'V and graphics
characters by "g f \ Thus an inverse W would he represented by "iw M , a
graphics W by "gw", and an inverse graphics W by "igw",
Spices are represented by "sp" and inverse spaces by "isp". Whenever
any character is to be used more ihan once, the number of time* it is 10 be
used is shown before it, together with a multiplication sign, This "6*iflp"
means six inverse spaces and "(g4:4*i4:g3) would be entered as a graphic
Tour, followed by an inverse four repeated four limes, followed by a
graphics three.
Where whole words are to be written in inverse letter* they appear in
the listings as lower-case letters, letters to be entered in graphics modr on
the Spectrum are underlined.
Inverse characters may be entered on the by changing to
graphics mode and then typing the appropriate characters and on the
Spectrum by changing to inverse video and typing the appropriate letters.
Graphics Lb;u alters may be entered on the ZX-81 by changing to graphics
mode and then pressing symbol shift while the appropriate character* tre
entered. On the Spectrum graphics characters may be obtained by
changing to graphics mode and then pressing the appropriate character.
LVr-LlH'med graphics will appear as, normal Letters until the pmgram has
GEIt
PRINT RT Y,Xj h
LET L-INT <RND*2m
ggtq L+ise
LET X-X+SGN <A-X>
GOTO Z
LET Y-Y+SLN iB-Y >
PRINT AT V,Xj
IF USR 1 £5 14-120 THEN GOTO
IF Y*B AND X*fl THEN GUTU 50
PftlNT "2 41
PRINT AT B-flj" "
CDTU S3
LET X-P
LET Y-Q
PRINT RT B.Rj J ' "
PRINT RT Y,X' ,f 2"
LET Z-lfcO
GOTO 9t)
PRINT "GAME OVEP*>S
20 FUR H~tOlf£ Jt " CLfOfc "2 H
J0 PRINT RT RNO*LUL>€ *N
t>*curjE m c**5"j * 0 Apr 1
40 NEXT N
50 LET fl-COPE
60 LET B-R
70 LET Y-LG&E "<9»>"
SO LET H-Y
65 LET Z-I33
90 LET Q-Y
10a let p-x
110 LET fl-R-K INKEYt- & w inkey
•-"5" )
120 LET 0-B+< lNKEYl-"6" >-< INKEY
130 Pft I NT RT B.Rj
133 IF USR 16514-129 THEN LET 5
-S+l
137 PRINT
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
LU SUB
RftNDUMIZE
LU SUB lb&0
PRINT RT 7,0; "here are
an each runner"
PRINT RT 9,0; INVERSE i i "ru
odds Punter bet
FOR o*l TU (5
PRINT INK <?-0>JfflT 3;
p < o > J
<*<o>
DIM bcb>
lG+o,
NEXT o
Din (MK6j is
FUR l*1 TU e
PRINT RT l8,U; M do you wish
to bet on " ; FLASH I J INK C?~t>l
L
INK
"runner " ; i ; FLRSH 0; INK Q; " ?"
248 bEEP 0-23,0 ! INPUT INVERSE
lj "enter u or n ■
230 IF it**" ft* THEN GO TU 309
260 IF a*<>"y" THEN UU TU 240
270 INPUT "enter «our nam* « "j
MKx>= PRINT INK C7-0;BT tgfrl*
i5u niti 1 >
£60 INPUT "Place your bet < uP
to > ' *";b<i> = PRINT INK
<7-i>JflT 10+i,27j H * H ;b< 1 )
298 CJU TU 310
369 LET m»<i>-"no Punter" : PRIN
T INK <7-i>;RT 10+i 1 lb; m»t 1 >.j RT
10+ 1 , 25; "no bet"
310 NEXT 1
320 PRINT RT 18,0; "now you can
90 to the race track H : bEEP 1 , 0
338 PRINT RT idfei, wj "taw Pre£fciii9
any letter key"
340 IF INKEY*-"" THEN Gfj TU 3J
0
4 1 0 CLS ' PR 1 NT 1 N VERSE 1 ; " P u r«
ter";RT 0/ 9j "runner n ; RT 0,l?;"od
d* " ; RT 0,23; "bet"
420 FUR j-1 TU 6
43Q PRINT INK 7-4 J AT i>0^*(J>
; RT j/12;JjRT Ji 17; PC j >; " ' 41 ; <K J >
> RT J ,23; ";b< j ?
440 NEXT j
310 FUR i-l TU 6
520 PRINT RT 0+2*<6-i>,0; INVER
SE iJ INK ti7-i
530 CiU SUB 2000 c PRINT INVERSE
URT 9+2*<i-l>,0; INK 7-i; M <9
fc'9h>"
to
S ] N t ; [ . A I R V Si- R .frwary / Wtf
540 NEXT 1
530 PRINT RT 0,31; * I "jHT l#3U"
W";RT 2,3tJ*r H jfiT 3,3l;"N";RT 4,
31;"N">RT 5,31;"E";RT 6,31; f, R";R
T 7,31; " I "
610 PRINT INVERSE 1;RT t2#6; 4, P
res* any letter key";BT 15, 6; r * t
o start this race M
620 IF INKEY*"" " THEN GO TQ 60
Q
630 PRINT FiT 12,6;"
" ; RT 15, 6 j"
640 DIM r<6>
650 LET k-INT < RND*6+1 5
660 GO SUB 2000 £ PRINT RT 9+2#(
k-D.Kk); INK < 7-k >; " <9t'9hV
67© LET rck >r< k )+l
660 GO SUB 2500 ! PRINT INK < 7-
k>;RT 9+2*<k-l >,r< k >; " t9r=9f>"
690 IF KkX26 THEN GO TO 650
710 GO SUB 2000- PRINT RT 9+2*C
k-l>,30; FLRSH 1; INK <7-k>j"<9t
9h >"
720 PRINT RT 9*£#< k-1 >, 31 J " \" I R
T 10+2*<k-l >,31 ; " I "
730 PRUSE 50 : BEEP 1,0
740 PRINT RT 8+2*< k-1 >, 4 ; " to co
llect your w l nnm9s" ; RT 9+2*<k-l
6; "Press any letter key"
750 IF INKEY*«"" THEN GO TO 74
0
800 REM wmnin9£ routine
610 CLS
820 PRINT RT 2,0; INK <7-k>;"wh
lPPet number " ; k ; " won this race
14 833 PRUSE 25- IF b< k >-0 THEN G
0 TO 900
840 PRINT RT 5,0; "you chose thi
1 one "> INK < 7-k );m*K k >
850 PRINT RT 7,0; "your bet (Mi
"j INK <7-k >; "4"jb<k >; INK 0; " a
t " j INK (7-k)iP(k)J"'"iq<k)J IN
K 0;" to win"
660 PRINT RT 9,0; "so you colle
ct "; INK < 7-k >; INT <100*b<k
:<#pCk >/q<k H0.5 V100
870 PRINT RT 12/0; H sorry ever
y one else r"" N rfou all lose you
r bets )"
860 GO TO 950
90S PRINT RT 8,0; "no Punter bet
on this runner"
910 PRUSE 25' PRINT RT 10,0;*'so
rry ! you. all lose your bets I 11
950 PRUSE 50- BEEP 1.0' REM fin
l sh l n9 routine
960 PRINT RT 18,0; INVERSE 1;"P
res-s letter key R to race *9ain"
" "Press letter key F to finish"
970 IF INKEY*-"r" THEN GO TO 1
0
980 IF INKEY*' > tr f " THEN GO TO
960
99Q NEW
1310 FOR l»0 TO 7
1320 INK <7-l)' PBP^R I
1330 PRINT RT 1 , 6; "< isP atf**P ■ IS
P >"
1340 PRINT RT 2,6; "< isP ■ SIM WHI
PPETS RUN 1 isP) 11
1350 PRINT RT 3, 6 i "C isP ■ 18*sP > is
P V
1360 PRINT RT 4,fij"<i*P' WHICH W
ILL WIN ?■ isP V
1370 PRINT RT 5/ 6 J "< isp ■ 18*mp ■ is
P>"
1388 PRUSE 25
1396 NEXT I
1400 RETURN
1519 DIM P<6> = DIM qC6>
1520 FOR oM TO 6
1538 LET P<o>-=IHT <RND*9+1>
1540 LET 1Co>»INT CRN0*9+I>
1550 NEXT o
1560 RETURN
2110 POKE USR "T"+0,BIN 11000000
2120 POKE USR "T"-H,BIN 00110000
2130 POKE USR "T n +2,BIN 00001111
2140 POKE USR "T"+3,BIN 00000111
2150 POKE USR "r'+4,BIN 00111011
2160 POKE USR ff T"+5,BIN 01000000
2170 POKE USR " T" +6, BIN 10000000
2180 POKE USR ,P T"+7,BIN 00000000
2210 POKE USR "H"+0,BIN 00001100
2220 POKE USR "H"+1,BIN 00011110
2230 POKE USR "H"+2,BIN 11110000
2240 POKE USR "H"+3,8IN 11100000
2250 POKE USR "H"+4,UIN 11011100
2260 POKE USP "H"+5,BIN 00000010
2270 POKE USR "H"+6,BIN 00000001
2280 POKE USR "H"+7,BIH 00000000
^380 RETURN
2610 POKE USR "R"+0,BIN 0010000O
2628 POKE USR "R"+1,0IN 00100000
2630 POKE USR '<R"+2,BIN 00111111
2648 POKE USR "R"+3,BIN 00000111
2650 POKE USR "R"+4,BIN 00001011
2660 POKE USR "R"+5,BIN 00001000
2670 POKE USR "R"+6,BIN 00001000
2660 POKE USR "R"+7,BIN 00000110
2710 PUKE USR "F" + PJ,61H 00U01100
2720 POKE USR "F"+1,6IN 00011110
2730 POKE USR "F"+2,BIN 1111000S
2740 POKE USR "F"+3,BIN 11100000
2756 POKE USR r 'F"+4,BIN 11010000
2760 POKE USR "F"+5,6IN 00010000
2778 POKE USR "F"+6, BIN 000100O0
2790 POKE USR "F"+7,BIN 01 100000
2800 RETURN
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
ZOMBIE ISLAND
YOU HAVE been shipwrecked on
an island inhabited by semi-hu-
man zombies. You must evade
them and destroy rhem by luring them
into the sea round the island, or into the
graves with which the island is dotted.
Move using the usual cursor keys,
When the program begins a map of the
island will be displayed for a short time
before the instructions appear.
Zombie Island was written for the
16K ZX-81 by Guy Gratton of High
Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.
L'"
2 puke i6t>iu,o
i LLS
4 LET S-0
3 PUKE 16418,0
■J GQSUG 2000
10 REM ****** ISLAND******
_u L'lH ■-<*•: s j 1 1 ■
'M PRINT " ZOMBIE ISLAM
4G FU? R-l TU 31
30 LET RlU-FI>-"t9hr
6© let A«<i23, A>«"<gh> w
70 NEXT fl
yL LET fl*.' 2;-"
t 18*9h &*i*P •£*« h
90 LET A«<3>-' 1 <8*flh-2B*i»P ■ 3*9
100 LET A»<4>-"t7*9h 22*i*P'£*9
h>"
110 LET fl«5> M <3*flh'23*i»P >4fft
1^:0 LET A*tfc>-fl*t5/
1 _kJ LET R*' ? >*fl«( 6 »
135 LET fl»C7iSi«"t i*P >"
140 FUR A*0 TU 10
150 LET RKR>RI(7)
I 60 NEXT fl
1 70 LET A0t 1 1 >-A*< 7 >
173 LET flKlL4>" H liiP)"
180 FOP fl*l2 TO 13
190 LET fl»<fl>-fl*< 11 )
296 NEXT fl
210 LET Rhib>»«, 210 LET R*^lfc>
*"<L4*9h £3*1 ftp '2* 9h )"
220 LET A*< 1 7 j»A*< 1 £ >
2jO LET fl*t IS >"fl« 17 >
£3*3 LET ftMS^Ktflh)"
240 let r»< i£)-Ri< ia >
..145 LET fl* ltf,2a ?» M <tfn>"
250 LET A»t20">» ,, t3*flh , LB*i»F -0*
260 LET A*t£l>-"0*9h ie*i*P.0#
27*3 LET R*r 22>-"< l£*9h' 7*iftP : l£
290 REM **PUTHDLES«*
298 FOR fl— 5 TO RND*15
i00 LET X-INT (HNM2D+I
310 LET Y-JNT tRND*30>*l
311 LET 2* INT <RND*4>
312 IF 2-0 THEN LET L*-"< 95 ■"
313 IF Z-i THEN LET (.KtteV
3 14 IF 2*2 THEM LET U*-^*?)"
313 IF 2-3 THEN LET U**"C90^"
$20 IF Rl^ J Y;- l, (itPj" 1 HEN LET
A*<tf,Y;«»u*
j JO NEXT A
•40 FUR R-l T ■_, w
330 PRINT TAB <; i >;fl*<;A>
360 NEXT fl
J 70 LET fl«INT <RND*22>H
380 LET B-IHl '. RND*30:' + 1
330 IF fl*(R,£iM>"; itP J" THLN BQ
TU :j70
400 REM ******20MBIE3******
410 LET NO OF 20MB IE 4 -INT (Mft
*7>+l
420 DIM XCNO OF ZOMBIES >
430 D I M Y<NU OF ZOMBIES)
440 FOR 2-1 TO NO OF ZOMBIE'S
430
460
470
4-30
4B0
4*0
300
600
601
0
602
603
604
509
fc 10
61 1
612
614
*- |J 7
616
*-"3
616
LET X-INT lf?N0*2l>+l
LET Y-INT tRND*29)+l
IF PMX,Y>»"<.9h>" THEN LOTO
LET
LET V<2>-V
NEXT 2
RED ****«*uAME*****#
IF iNKEYtO'S" THEN OOTU 61
SAVE "2.0M6 1 Eft"
PAUSE 500
CLS
RON
REM mov« zombi #i
IF RND>.3 THEN UUTU 620
PRINT RT A,0J rl C t*P >"
LET A»R+< INKEY*-"6" >-< INKEY
1 )
LET 0-B+< INKEY*-" B" M 1HKEY
PRINT AT A,B,"C1NVV>"
620 FUR 2-1 TU NU OF ZOMBIES
IF XI 2 .'-1000 THEN <JUTU 700
640 PRINT AT X( Z ^ Y< £ >J « C ISP i M
630 LET X<Z>-X<:2>KXC2Xfl>-<Xt2
>:>r>
660 LET YtZ>-Y<;Z>+<Y^ZKB?-CYCZ
661 PRINT flT Xt 2 Y< Z?i "
662 IF X<£>-fl RNO Y< Z >-B THEN L,
UTU 664
663 UUTU 673
664 PAUSE 100
663 CLS
666 PRINT "YOO UuT MUNCHED BY R
ZOMBIE"
667 OOTU 820
675 IF R*<XCZ>,V<Zi>« 'U3P> M TH
EN UUTO 700
680 LET S-S+30
687 PRINT RT 1, 1 ."SPLRSH 006S fl
ZOMBIE"
688 PAUSE 100
689^R1NT RT 1 , 1 1 AH 1 >
6^0 PRINT RT XCZ Y<£ j>flt<X<2>,
Yt Z > j
6*5 LET XCZ^-1000
700 NEXT 2
710 LET S-S+l
720 REM movm Pl*v*r
730 PRINT flT A,B> "C ISP?"
740 LET R-fi+t rNKEYi-* , 6 , *>-C INKEY
*-"7 4f >
730 LET B-B+t INkEY»-"e H >-C tNKEY
■*"5" >
760 PRINT AT R , &J "t INVX V
770 IF flU A,a>-"C ISP 3" THEN UOT
U 900
700 PAUSE 100
790 ELS
800 IF fl*<fl,B3-"(9hi" THEN PR IN
T "YOO FELL OF THE ISLAND''
810 IF ftll^BKV'tflh)" THEN PR1
NT "YDU FELL IN A URRVE ANO ARE
\iM OESTINED TU HAUNT xctnbim i*\
and FOREVER"
020 PRINT , tt , 1 ' YUU yUOREO h j
S
930 PRINT -Mi.^/i'trK *94iin k
Y^-N >*
840 PAUSE 4E4
B50 IF INKEY««"Y' 1 THLN RUN
360 IF 1NKEY*-"N"' THEN NEW
870 OOTO 840
905 LET H*0
910 FOR Z-l TO NO OF ZUMBILS
y20 IF X<.i5-iej00 THEN LET H-H+l
930 NEXT Z
i40 IF H< VHO OF ZOMBIES THEN L
UTU 1000
530 PflOSE ISO
960 PRINT "WELL OUNE YUU LUT TH
h UJT fcfUT HERE LuML'S SUMb HUttt
870 PRINT flT 10, l>"Pr«* • k««*
980 PAUSE 4E4
y85 CLS
990 CUTU 10
1500 LOTO 600
£010 LLS
£-028 PRINT " WELLUME Tu..,"m. ,TR
& 7 j "ZOMBIE ISLAND >TA6 6j"<14*-»
* >"
2030 PRINT j«»«TflB 3j"Y0U HAVE J
UST BEEN SHIPWELKEU"
2040 PRINT "UN THE LEOUENL'RRY ZU
MB IE ISLAND "
2060 PRINT "HERE T U SAVE YUUR SO
OL YUU MUST"
2O70 PRINT "DESTROY THESE VILE 0
REflTURES BY"
2060 PRINT "EITHER LURINU THEM T
D THEIR DOOM"
2090 PRINT " IN THE SEA or BY TRA
PPINC THEM"
2100 PRINT "IN THE ISLANDS MANY
CRAVES"
2110 PRINT t t i » TAB 3; "YOU CAN MO
VE USING. . . "
2l20 PRINT TAB 13j"7"jTAB 14j "3<
ah>e"jTAB 15 J "6 "
2130 PRINT flT 23,3, -Pr-*** a k*v
to b»9in ir
2140 PAUSE 4E4
2150 LLS
2160 RETURN
SINCLAIR i:SER January
BfflfflBB5
YOU ARE an Electric Current run-
ling round a circuit board. Go up
with I, down wiih A, right with P
and left with L After the game your circuit
[ime is given.
The program was written by D Pih, aged
12, of EHesmere Port, Cheshire for the I6K
1 LE r s- 0
b LbT T^fcJ
ie PRINT "<2l*9h>"
20 PRINT *<0h>*
PRINT <^9h:>.C2*9h><C2#9h>.<
2*9h i - C 2*9h > . '> 2*9h ) . c 2*9h > - C 9h > «
49 PRINT " 1 40 PRINT Htf*M£*0
h >*< 2*9h j. c. £Mh >. < 2*9h>.<. 2*9h >.
b0 PRINT *<9h?
- . «C9b>"
£0 PR I NT " <. 9h > - < 2*9h ) . <. 2*9h > . <.
2*9h > . < 2*9h > . < 2*9h > . < 2 *9h > - < 9h > "
70 PRINT "<0h->.< 8*0*1 >*< 2*9h >.<.
2*9h ) . < 2*9h > - < 2*9h > - C 2*9b > - 1 9h ) ' '
Be PRINT "<.9h>. , - . . -
, *.<9h>"
90 PRINT 4, <9h^.t£*«h*«<J*rtl"M
2*9h > . ( 2*9h >. < 2*9h ) - < 2*9h > ■ < 9h >"
100 PRINT ^gh).^*^:'.^*^)/,
2*9h * - C 2*9h > „ < 2*9h ) . < ^*9h > - < 9h > "
110 PRINT 9h >
...<9h>"
180 PRINT M <9h>.*2*9h).<2*9h:>*<
2#9h M 2*9h >. < 2*9h >#< 2*9h >•< 9h >"
130 PRINT "C9h>.<2*9h>^. 2*9h>.c
2#9h M 2*9h >. C 2*9h >. < 2*9h M 9h >*
140 PRINT "£9h> -
...C9h>"
ISO PRINT "<9h >.«: 2*:'I-»h.'- < 2T9h >.<:.
2*9h ) - 1 2*9h J . < &*0h > * i 2**h > - i 9h > "
ibO PRINT "«0h>#<29^>*t2*0H>«<
2*9h 5 - < 2*9h > - <. 2*9h > - < 2*9h > . 9h > "
170 PRINT *<«*)
. - ,<9hV
180 PRINT E '<fth>.t2*9h:'. t 2*9h>.<
2*9h >« < 2*9h >• < 2*9h >. 1 2*9h )« < 9h >*
190 PRINT rt <9h}*<2*9h>.<2S0h>.<
2*9h >. < 2*9h ) . < 2*9h >• < 2*9h J . < 9h > "
SINCLAIR USER Janiuinf
<d0O PRINT ,f| * y$ * ■■•■■■■■•■■■pp
. .*< 9hr
210 r-RIHT M < 20*910"
220 LET S-10
230 LET R*10
233 PRINT RT frftjjgeNilT B,R>" "
249 LET B-B+C INKEYS^'fl" INKEY
•■"1" >
250 LET fi-R+< rNKEY*-'^ 1 ' >«<■ INKEY
»-"I" y
251 LET T*T+.5
255 PRINT RT 0.1 /"SCORE ">S
269 LET R*"CHR* PEEK 1 PEEK 163^
6+256*PEEK 16397+1-^+^ B*33>>
270 IF RM-"<9hy i THEN CjOTO 360
2QQ IF R*^"." THEN LET S-S+l
290 IF ft**"*' 1 THEN LET S-S+5
3S0 IF S-231 UR S>231 THEN GUTO
380
310 GOTO 235
BARS
ASHLEY MORRIS, aged 12, of Wal-
tham, Grimsby wrote Bars for the
IK ZX— 81. He has had his ZX-81
only a few weeks and this is his first pro-
gram. Try and break down the wall into bars
by steering into il with keys 6 and 7,
35Q CLS
360 RUN
380 PRINT RT 8*10; "TIME "jT
390 IF INK£Y<K > tr R" THEN CUTu 39
0
400 CLS
410 RUN
420 SRVE "BIG TRRP "
430 RUN
1
TRY
2
3
4
5
10
155
160
171
175
lea
190
195
197
198
199
205
230
240
250
at"
PRINT "USE KEYS 6 RND 7 TU
RNf> DESTROY THE WRLL"
PRUSE 200
CLS
FOR DM TU 10
-PRINT "<9*:ISP>"
NEHT D
FDR M*0 TO 20
LET B«m
LET 8*30
FOR N-31 TU 2 STEP -1.5
PLOT flj B
LET R*=INKEYS
UNPLOT fl,B
PLOT fi,B
UNPLOT R,B
IF M-20 THEN UUTO 250
IF R*»"7" THEN LET B»B+1
IF R»*"6" THEN LET B-B-l
LET R«R-3
NEXT N
NEXT M
PRINT RT 11, 16; "not v/a-r j fn
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
SHOW JUMPER
T
ACKLE THE JUMPS in Showfumper by Carl Kropacz for
the 16R. Spectrum. You collect faults if you do not jump
properly- Improve your score or go to a higher leveL
5 puke 2^t0y,5b
7 LET hS-40- LET d»-'Nii*ble N
ad' J
ltj buRUfcR 2 PfiPfcR 2< ULS
20 FUR n»USR H l" TU U3R "c 4, +7 ;
RERO w POKE nvx. NEXT t>
30 DRTfl 0,16,24,26,63,124,164,
36,9,72, iea# 120,5,;, 100^4, t.4, u,h
, 12, 6a, y0, 73, 4x4
35 LET t-0
37 UO SUB 430
40 BEEP .5,20' PRINT RT 5,0; 1
NK U M Cinv93"93 : inv93 *J 'tnw«a-9
3' 1ttv93'9^ inv93 93?"j INK 7; M SH
UU JUMPING" j INK I j "i. L»v93-9J< lYi
v93^93 irtvQ3'93' im/93-93' inv93>"
50 INPUT "Uhit *P*ad? <l-3> "
ji< IF »<0 OR »>5 THEN FUR f-1
TO 15' BEEP -03,10- BORDER 0- BE
EP .05,20 • BORDER 2' NEWT f • CO
TO 50
60 PRtNT AT 10,12/ INK 0i"L*vf
i-";*jflT 15.19J INK 7, 'Pr»»* ~7~
to JumP"jRT 17* iB#"Pr#»* to
70 PAUSE 00
75 BEEP .5, 10
80 CLS
90 FOR J*4 TO 20 STEP 4' FUR *
•0 TO 31
100 PRINT RT j,v, INK 4i ,, 'itivM
>"
110 NEHT w ■ NEXT J
120 INK 4' PRINT AT 3, Jl J N t 95 >
*RT 7, J2j *tfl5>"iAT 7, j3j M <93>"iA
T 11 , *4> "<95>" jRT 1 1, j5j '<95 Vifl
T 15^ j6> "( 9>5 )" j RT 13, ;7, "< 93 >" jR
T 19, jer(«> " jRT 19, J9> "<©3> M JA
T 19, J10J "< 95V
130 INK 0' PRINT RT B,Bj"Lurran
t l tiiter- 1 Jd»i 'jh»*" fault*"
149 LET n-i LET 4-3
145 GO SUB 220
150 PRINT RT JUW-ii" "' PRINT A
T i,m"<9i>"' BEEP .002,0
160 IF INKEY»-"7" THEN UU -pUB
330
165 IF INKEV»-"*" THEN UU
488
170 LET n-n+l
LQ0 FOR f-1 TU 10**~10 NEXT f
190 IF ti-32 THEN LET n-1 • LET
a-i+4 ■■ PRINT AT *-4,n+3QV
200 IF 1*23 THEN UU TU 350
210 CO TO 145
220 IF 1-3 AND n-j 1 THEN UU TO
:J4B
230 IF 1-7 ANO n-j2 THEN ULf Tu
340
£40 IF 1-7 AND n-j3 THEN UU TU
340
250 IF i-ll flNU n-;4 THEN LU T
U rj40
2t>0 IF i-ll ANO n*j3 THEN UO T
0 340
270 IF 1-15 AND n-Jb THEN L-u 1
280 IF 1-15 AND n-j7 THEN UO T
U 340
230 IF 1-19 RND n-jfc) THEN LU T
U 340
300 IF 1-13 ANU n-jy THEN UU T
a 340
310 IF 1-19 AN£j n-jl0 THEN UO
TO 340
320 RETURN
330 PRINT RT i, '\ 9le j" FfjR f-
1 TO 19**' NEXT f LET *-»-l Lt
T n-n+1' PRINT RT "• U
0 iUB 440 PRINT RT i # n J M < 9l >" '
FOR f-1 TO i9*a> NEXT f LET *-i
+1 1 LET fi-n+1 1 PRINT AT i-l,m-lj
" "' CO SUB 440- PRINT AT 4,f»"<
9j V ' UO TO 220
340 PRINT AT i,n-l, ' ' LET n-n
+1' PRINT RT a,n-n INK 4j 4, <93>"
jAT i,n, "<, >" i AT JL*m"
-n+i' LET t-t+4 RETURN
350 PAUSE 30
360 IF t-0 THEN
INT AT 3,0 j "Wall
r lair rourid"' CU
370 BEEP .3.0
LET
BEEP ,5,10' PR
dona you hid 4
T O 375
PRJNT AT 3,0, "Hi
rd luck vou hid "iti" fiulti"
375 PAUSE 40
360 IF t<h* THEN BEEP .5,20 P
RINT AT 13,0 j "Vou hiva 9ot todiw
* ba*t round" INPUT "Entar hon
a* n4ma"jdf ■ LET hi-t
330 BEEP .5,10 PRINT AT 17, 2 j
INK Ij PRPER £j FLASH 1 j N Do wou
ujjdt inothar Qimt (^n)"
400 IF INKEY»« H n" THEH STOP
419 IF INKEYt-"«" THEN LLS ■ U
O TO 35
420 UU TU 400
430 LET ji-U-t-INT <RNO*l3>- LET
J2-6+INT tRNO*9)- LET j3-l8*INT
<HN&*e)' LET J4-C+INT < RNU*6 * ■
LET j5-ie+INT CRNl*&> LET J6-6+
INT <RNU*6>' LET j 7-1 0+1 NT < RNU*
0 V LET J0-10+INT <RNP*5> LET j
9-J9+3+1NT < RND*3 i 1 LET jlG-jy+y
+INT tRNC'*3>- RETURN
440 IF n-32 THEN LET n-1 ■ LET
1-4+4
450 IF 1-23 THEN UU TO 350
478 RETURN
40O SAVE "hone" LINE 5' VERIFY
ii ii
430 RETURN
SINCLAIR USF.R frmiw mm
CATCHER
CATCH THE SEEDS in your
basket before they spoil your
crop. You can manage to carry
only 10 at once, so you have
to drop them quickly and
return to your task.
Seed Catcher was
written by K Brown of
Codnor, Derbyshire, for the
I6K Spectrum.
1 bRiLHT B' LLS 1 CD SUB 9dOU
lu ilia 9U0w
2 LLT tcore-U PRlNl '*Qi/ SCO
red" j score < LET **»-t3 PAUSE 1UU
^ LtT £core-0' LtT bornj.i-1000
LLT man- 18
tj LET teec^lNT fpNbtll ■
7 LLT H*£
ft LET time- 1000
10 BORDER 4= PRPER 4' INK i C
14 FUR i-U 1U 1
lb l^RTA 10, 12, 14, 10. 17* ltfi ir>i
14, is, 14, Ifc, 14, 4
2B FOR *-l TU 14 RERL' c OLE
p .62, C HELP ,02,-c+l7 OLLK- -U
i( c BEEP ,Ol,-c+l7' BEEP .01 >c
HLXT 9 bLEP .eu-e+l7 : bEEP .0
l »-r+l7
21 RE'-TUPE 1 PAUSE 27 NEXl =
100 PRINT RT g,0; "Score-" > score
, fiT 0, 1 1 ; "BONUS : " ' bonus
101 *.F n>««iU THLH LLT *eed-INT
r put'* j i :>
102 PRINT m O* L'J ; " '^ELIK^" J
103 PRINT FIT L<lBi FLRsH i; INK
0; "TIME r " J INT time
X04 LET feiiw*tiw*-l
lO* IF see:-iQ THEN LLT see-10
ELEP , 01 * INT <. RNl'tlW >
nO LET bonu,*=bonui- 1
Hi If time^-0 1 HEN GO TU 33^:*
120 PRINT AT 21,w*n; INK Oi H
m <■ " i RT 20,n*riJ INK Oi" <.9a> "
20O IF INKEY*-"*" THEN Ltl n*n
»nan-l
£iO IF INkEY*-"*'" THLN LtT m*r»
«m4r<+l
220 IF mjm>-23 THEN LET m*n-29
2jB IF ***n*."0 THEN LET roan^O
.00 PRINT AT n,seed; INK Ej'XGs
." PRINT RT 20,se*cb" "
310 PRINT pi n-lj0j M
" 1 LET n-n+
1 IF n-21 THEN LtT n*2
JbW PRINT RT 2t) J M«d> 11 "
400 IF «*in+l-«*d RHP n-20 TNLN
LET n-or-e**cort+lO' BEEP .01,4
0' BELP *0l.JO BEEP .0U£0 BtE
P .OHIO* BLEP .01>O LtT see- se
e+1 BELP ,01^
■DtJU PRINT AT 21 ,B- "<_>■'
5^0 IF m*n-l FINE see- 10 THEN F
UR z*9 TU 10 : BEEP .&t*X» NEXT r
LLT vrore'score+bonus LEI
-0
eouo CO TU 100
90BB BGR.DEP 4 PRPER 4' INK 7
PAPER 7' LL'j PRINT AT 0,0
j FLRSH 1; PAPER U" SEED
(. fl T C H t R
90 jO LET
You to*> have tn mou« from left
to Oft >
risht tr*in9 to catch it m
seed* <9*> +* «ou c*i> be<e
re -rfcvr
tim* run* oat, When
h* vff
collected 10 seed* vw
h*vs to
3o *nd Put them ir* the
tnv at
the side of the »Treer<
s mhi then
9o and collect >rtohfr 1
rj . For
ever* seed vou cjtch
i.i oet 1E3
Point*"
LET h*-"U r -E KEYb;-
- 1U uu LEFT
K TU LO RIGHT"
9040 DRICHT 1 FUR 4*1 TU Sf#^ L
KT iriK-INT ^RNUr4!'- PRINT INK l
rikj«*C«>j ■ next •
!M4a BPiGHT 0- FUR A-l TO 77' LL
T ink -INT f.RN0*4>- PRINT INK in
k,b*' j n NEXT a' bRlLHT 1
90*0 PRINT fc 1 , " LOUt' LUC K . Pre* * »
key +-o start"
^0bO PRU3C O
Vf3?Q RETURN
9200
3^00
9310
y^O
3340
9i*0
■J rtu
9 370
9410
94^0
y4ae
9440
94*0
94*50
9470
y*io
3*20
3530
9b40
9^3*0
9!5€0
3570
9fc00
LUflL> "'"CULt RUN
PuKE 0-iR "?"*u,bIN
'■j" + l#BiN
•'4'*+£:,BIN
"a">0,BIN
,, a-+4ieiN
,J a" +*.B1N
H * H +t,BlN
"a"+7, BIN
BIN
"m"+2,B!N
,, n"+3»BIH
"n H +4,bIN
"m 1 +**BIN
"n"*6*&lH
"m"+7,blN
PUKE USR
POKE USR
PUKE U'oft
PUKE USR
POKE USR
PUKE USR
PUKE USR
PUKE USR
PUKE USR
PUKE USR
POKE USR
POKE USR
PUKE USR
POKE USR
PUKE USR BIN
PUKE USR >*'+l,BlN
PUKE IJSR
POKE USR
PUKE USR
POKE USR
PUKE USR "»"+fc,BIN
BIN
M s"+3,BIN
"* 1, +4,BIN
BIN
PUKE USR
RETURN
"*■'«■?, BIN
OUOOOO0O
O0OO0OO0
O00O0OOU
00000000
LJIJ01 1000
01UH1O
00111100
00 1 1 1 1 00
00011000
Bum i0
01011010
01OU010
0V3U11U00
00 10O1O0
O0 100 100
OttldUOOOO
BWWMMOB
00011000
00111100
eeiuioo
0011 1 100
00111100
(30011000
9398 PRINT RT 1OU0J FLRSH U IN
K 0i "URME OVER" PHUSE 0 PfiUSE
G
9999 GO TU 2
SINCLAIR t Si:R January 1984
-
PSYCHIATRIST
MICHAEL HOPKINS wTote Psychiatrist for the 16K Spec-
trum. The program tests how well you can recognise numbers.
hA number of up to six digits flashes on the screen and you
have to enter the number you see- The time limit on the screen
diminishes steadily. At the end> the overall results are analysed,
i ii
HflSj&D' BuRUER 5 PAPER ?
^3 PRINT INK 2; FLASH I J AT U^
7; ,, SP0T THE NUMBLR's. ■'■ PRINT IN
K ii "(**sp: WVij3) : iMK<&
lid PRINT '"THIS PROCRRrt TESTS
UN£ ASPECT UFHUMLRALV - HUM WELL
YUU LRU RECUONl SE NOmBERS.
INITIALLY A NUMBER
UF UP Tij fe Li I tilTS WILL FLASH U
N THE SCREEN FUR 1 t,LLONO.ALL YO
U HAVE TCI DU IS ENTER THE NUMBER
YOU SEE, AND YOU WILL BE TOLD IF
IT I j R10HT-
THE 1 I PIE THE NUMBER
IS UN THE SLREEN U1LL STEAL) 1L
Y DECREASE TO LE'iS THAN 1^50 "S
EC. VOO UiLL IHEVlTAbLY CET SUME
URuNLi.flT THEEND YOUR OVERALL RE
SULTQ WILL BESHOUN.
PRESS ENTER TO STAR
LU "lu Itau'J
"ENTER THE NU
12 I r iNKEY»-CHR» 13 THEN C'LS
CO TO 20
13 IF iNKEV*< >LHR* IV THEN OU
TO 12
20 LET n-l
30 OlM J<2lti) REM tiM
jl DIM kc^lfcj REN no of cti9it
■
32 DIM t»<2ib,5>
50 LET z-bB
HQ LET *"1NT <.RHD*7)
150 LET -'INT < RND*Si >+l >*10**
160 PRINT AT IOj 12jx
ISO PAUSE T
lf35 LLS
iy(3 LET r-:-!,*!
£00 IF *<»5 THEN
300 PRINT ' ' TA& fe
MBLR M J " TAB 12 i "YOU SAW""" TAB 0;
"IF YOU FAILED TO SEE THE NUMBER
'"TAB 11>"' PRESS J 0'"
302 INPUT b
3*J3 IT b«0 THEN U.S 1 CO TU 16
B
310 PRINT PIT 10, 12, b
32(3 IT b-v THEN PRINT RT 10.12
j INK. l; H O.K. N FUR Cf-0 TU 10
BEEP .&2,cJ' NEXT d ■ LET l^n>-
"CK." 00 TU 325
322 PRINT AT 10,4; iNK 2j m WR0N0
. YOU TV PEL 1 "Jbjpj U,4j%T S
HOULO HAVE BEEN "i- LET l«C n
WRUNL" FOP cf»ifJ 1 U u STEP -l B
£EP ,B2,d NEXT d' PAU-.L
325 PAU^E 7 j
326 CLS
32B LET Kn)-? 1 LET kX * >»*
340 LET n-TH-l
350 UU TU 10U
1000 LET 9»l
1001 PRINT TAB S; M NO of '"j TAB LB;
J TAB 5; "Dl9tt* M ;TAti l5j'T*ilu
r-e"
1002
.LI
.ET
#-0
S=0
i^jTRB IBjv
UU TU lOfcB
■ f 1 WO ■
1005 LET t»0
1000 FUR rr«l TO 200
101O IF kCn>*9 THEN LET t-t*l
IF I* vT'-"WRUNO" THEN LEI a-t+1
1020 NEXT n
1022 LET v=iNT t*tl0O^t>
1023 LET
i025 PRINT TAB
1030 LET 9-9-t-l
1040 iF 9>6 THEN
1050 CU TO 1O0J
1060 PRINT TAB 10 j " —
B I4j M *v. " J TAB IB | INT
> ■ GO TO 2500
2O00 POKE 236->£,255 LET '3-1
2002 PRINT TAB Bj ,r a*C»" >TAB 10*"
No"; TAB 0; " 1^50" J TAB 5j m of dl9i
i!00b FOR r.-l TO 200
2007' IF J<nH.i THEN LET j', n>-0
201B IF k<*>-9 THEN PRINT TAB 0
MCnJiTAB 6;k(TOjTAB l2,l*.n.-
2020 NEXT n
2030 LET 9-9+1 PAUSE 100' IF 9>
S THEN CO TO 20-50
2035 PRINT *
2040 CO TO 2002
2050 PRINT 00 TUU WRNT
TU TRY AC A IN? <Y^NV
2060 IF INKEY*-"Y" THLn
U TO 2
2070 IF INKEY*«"N" THEN
520
2090 00 TO 2060
2500 PRINT ;TAB 0. "DO
OU WANT TO V£E A MORE
I LED ANALYSIS? IF SO PRES
P""" IF YOU WRNT TU TRY RCAINjPR
ESS H™
.^SiU IF 1HKEY»-0HR* 13 1H&N CLS
i CO TO 20O0
2513 IF INKEYi*"R N THEN uLs • C
U TU 10
2515 CO TO 2510
^520 CLS 1 PRINT AT 11,11; FLA^H
li INK Ij "CUUDBYEF" jAT 21 ,0* IN
K 2t" "
LLS fj
CU TO 2
Y
DEI A
LHTL
SINCLAIR USER January 1384
RANOLrMi^E
PRINT AT UJ-
'JUS1 & Ml HUT
3 OEF FN *<. )*INT t£+RND*S>
b GO SUb yfijQO
t LLT nnl*l&' LET nn2«10
10 PAPER 5" BORL*Efc b ! LLS
20 PRINT RT 3, 15j 'jf *AT 11*1
0j '3 BUND PliCE" LET 9-4 GO SU
B
30 PRINT FIT L3,l5j"bM" LET 9=
i UCj SUB 30
40 PRINT RT lb, 10J
LET 9-0' GO SUB 30
be pause 3a
70 PRINT RT 13, 0j FLASH li "Pr*
»* "m" for in»truction* -
^ ath#r k#y to Pi** -
75 BEEP .1,13
?y PPiLiSE 0
SO IF INKEWtS - OR INKEY*-"Y ■
THEN CO SUB B5O0
8b GO TU 100
30 BEEP ,04, «■«■:*' BEEP ,04,9+*>
BEEP .84, 9+ J BEEP .2,9
95 RETURN
100 GO TO 700
102 TNK 0« PAPER a BORDER 0 C
LS
105 FOR f-0 TO 91
110 PRINT INK 7j PAPER 2j BRIG
HT tifVT l*f;"ji"jflT 2t#fiV*i PAP
ER 0jAT 0,f , " "
115 BEEP ,ei,<20-f >>3 NEXT f
120 FOR f-2 TO 2B
123 PRINT INK 7, PAPER 2, BRIG
HT IjAT f,0j"r"iAT f ,5i V'iRT f,
3l**r"j INK 67 PAPER 0;flT" f,j0j"
PRINT
f
130 BEEP .01itfV3
139 NEXT f
140 FUR f-3 TO 13 STEP 4'
AT f,b; PAPER 0j H " ■ NEXT
155 PAUSE 50' GO SOB 30
160 GO SOB 300
lb I BRIGHT 1
165 PRINT INK FN it >jRT x,*i"t
f 3*i*P >9" AT x+1 " hui J "
~170 FOR f-1 TO 2
l7S GO SUB 300
ISO PRINT INK FH «< >,RT KV***
<£• i»P >9"jAT x*i»*t*hi4*
135 NEXT P
210 FOR f-1 TO 2
jib GU sUL jU tJ
220 PRINT AT x,vj INK FN *<->J ,l n
o" > AT xth^j "PP "
240 NEXT f
2b0 POft f-1 TO 2
255 GO SOB 300
260 PRINT INK FN *< ) j AT x , u j H _n
50" > AT x+1 .uj "p^p "
27b NEXT f
2B5 FOR f-1 TO INT 1 2+3*RNL- 1
230 GO SUB 320
23b PRINT INK FN *<>jfYT x,*;"k
" J AT x+Lw*
315 NEXT F ~ "
325 FOR f-1 TO INT C£+3*RN[/>
330 GO SUB 320
335 PRINT INK FN *<>jAT h,*j"J_
" > AT x+1,*o"m"
□50 NEXT f - i
355 FOR f-1 TO INT t2+3*RNL«>
360 GO SUB 320
□6b PRINT AT k^j INK 4,"m':AT
K+ljV* H t";flT x+£,*j INK FN *< >j*
u"
~375 NEXT f
300 PRINT AT 6,30, INK 6jV,mT
1 1 , 30 j H ti " / AT 16,30j"jV' OSEP .2
b, 20 BEEP . 1 , 2b
3B5 BRIUHT O
330 DIM x<33 DIM *t 3>
400 LET *«-' #_b" LET b»--cd*"
LET ci-" ab"
402 LET x-IHT <3+17*RN£>> LET 1
-INT <3+l7*RN&V LET z-IHT <3+l7
*RND>
403 IF AB$ >-.-4 OP AUS < <-7
X-4 OR A6S (^7V-4 THEN GO TO
402
410 LET xU)*K' LET x<2>-«. LET
SINCLAIR T-SBR Janary 1984
x(3>f LET *(l>-2' LET *<2>»2-
LET y<3>-2
415 FOR f-1 TCJ 3
420 PRINT INK f+Jj BRLUWT 1 J RT
425 NEXT (
426 GO TO 432
43Q ip vt i >-6 nw^ L>+2-30) u
R < x< l i-tl AND *t i >+2-30 ' UP < k<,
i>"l£ RMD »<1>+£!»36J) THEN GU TO
432 LET i *INT <RND*2+1>
433 FOR f-1 TO INT tRND*4+l >
445 IF RND>.&5 THEN UU 100
430 IF RTTR l la tl THE
N i_ET i i-wt l * + l PRINT INK l
+ 3, BRIGHT 1,AT xtf l >, v<L l >-l # **j R
T x< i l >-l;b*iRT #*i),*<l>-lJ
c*j INK 0j BRIGHT O/RT x<t>,yti>
-Ij' 1 INK 1+3; BRIGHT 1,RT x< l
)iV<l > ; *•
431 IF <x<i?-t AND *<i>+2-00> U
P <x<i>«ll AND y<i>+2*30> UR <x<
i>-16 RND w:i>+2-3e> THEN GO TO
50 13
432 IF RTTR < k< I ), -it l >+2 ><>0 TH
EN GO SUB 1000
455 NEXT f
465 GO Tfj 4jtf
300 REM win
503 FOR f-1 TU 3
510 BEEP .1-7' BEEP .2,12 BEEP
,1,12' BEEP .1,11 BEEP .i^ B
EEP ,1,11 BEbP ,2,l*i BEEP .1,7
i BEEP ,2,7
515 NEXT f
320 BEEP ,1/3' BEEP .35.4 BEEP
# 35,2< BEEP .4,0
325 IF ml- 1 THEN LET rrtnl-mnl+s
tl*3' LET ul-"Pl«r 1"' GO TO 5
40
330 IF p<t£*i THEN LET m^*mn£+»
t2*3 LET uli"PU«r 2"' GO TO 3
40
533 LET w*»" Neither of vou"
540 PAPER 7' BORDER 7' CLS 1 PR
INT RT 10,3j "Mouse No. "ju" *"i
INK i+3* "*b- J INK 0;"> 9at the
cheese. " j w* . " n
tht.t ont. "
343 IF mnl-0 OR mn2«0 THEN PRO
SE 200' CLS i FOR f-20 TO -j£j ST
EP -2' BEEP .02, f ; SEEP .02,f+3"
NEXT f : GO TO 600
330 FRU3E 200 GO TO 700
£00 REM broke
605 PRINT RT 10,0j m 0RNE OVER" ' '
"Pl**er 1 h#» ";mnij" Point*"' J "
P layer* 2 Has H imn2>" Points"
630 PRINT RT t7.e/'Pni* * ke*
for mother 9*.me. "
635 PAUSE 0
£40 GO TO 6
7UU REM bet
70£ PAPER 7 CLS ■ PRINT RT 3,0
i INK 4. ■ Al 7,0 j INK
AT 9,0j INK 6j N jb. ,r - INK 0 PRINT
RT 5/ 10 i ". . * . l'TflT 7-10j"....2 h
j RT 9, 10 j " . . . . 0"
715 PRINT RT 14, 3i "Plawer l has
"imnl>" Point*. " * RT 16,3j"Pl*we
r 2 h*s M ;mn2>" points,"
720 INPUT M P layer 1 Enter noate
No. " inl
722 GO SOB 000
7^3 IF ml'. 1 i>.J •■' 1HCH ■.f-h.P
1,0' GO TO 726
740 INPUT "PlWfr 2 Enter mouh
742 GO SUB 900
745 IF «2<1 OR «2>3 OR m2-ml TH
EN OEEP 1-0' GO TO 740
756 INPUT "PI aver 1 Enter stsJ<*
"istl
752 GO SUB 000
733 IF atl>mnl UP »tl<0 OP stl<
>INT Cftti) THEN BEEP 1-0' GU TO
730
760 INPUT "Placer £ Enter stake
■;st2
762 GO -SOB 300
765 IF st2>mn2 OR st2^0 OR st2<
>INT <*t2> THEN SEEP 1,0- GO TO
770 LET mm 1 •mm J -st. l LET mn2-nm
2-*t2' PRINT RT 14, i6i mnl j " Pom
ts " 1 RT I6,16jmn2i <1 Point* "
773 GO SUB 000
790 PROSE 100
790 GO TO 102
000 BEEP .02,20
005 RETURN
900 LET k" INT <2+16*RNLO' LET m
-INT te+l6*RNP>
903 IF RTTR <X,* ><>0 OR fTTTR (x
■■' -0 US RTTR <x,*+2-K>0 UR A
TTR Ch+1^+2X>0 OR RTTR <x,w + l)
00 OP RTTR •: v + i ,*+l ><>0 THEN G
0 TO 300
310 BEEP .OliO" BEEP .01,4 BEE
P ,01.6' BEEP .01, 12
913 RETURN
920 LET x-INT <2+l6*RNG>^ LET v
• INT < e+l9*RND.l
923 IF RTTR cxjW> .-0 CP RTTP f x
+ 1^><>0 OR RTTR ( -+^ J w.K>0 UR R
TTR <x,w-UX>0 OR RTTR (x-n+2)<>
0 THEN GO TO 320
930 BEEP .01,0= BEEP .01,4-
P .01,6 BEEP .01,12
935 RETURN
1000 REM move sideuAV*
1O03 LET r^RNO
iOlO IF m>.5 THEN LET s-1 GO T
0 1020
1015 LET
1020 TF RTTR C x< 1 >*• , *<. 1 > )-u RN£»
ftTTR Cx< 1 >+*,-*C i >+l >-0 THEN LE
T x< i >•*( l >+* 1 PRINT RT xti)-*,*
<i>* ORIGHT Oj INK 6> h "jRT «w
>,^<l.'»J INK 1+3, BRIGHT 1 ) •
IF RNC>>.5 THEN GO TO 1020
1030 IF flTTR tx« t 1 ^+2 X>0 RN
[> < RTTR t <C 1 5-t iV<I>K>0 OR RTTR
t xt 1 >-2,kc 1 "» "j< ; 0 op r<Tip '.: «' 1 1-
2,V<1>+1^<>0 OR RTTR <x<i)-li«U
>+l X >0 > RNO t RTTR < k< 1 )+l t pt,i
< >0 OR RTTR < v< 1 )+i , w< 1 >+l H >0 >
THEN GO TO 1030
1040 RETURN
1030 REM reverse
1032 TF RTTR t *< 1 >, v < i J-i >-0 THE
N LET a< 1 >*y< 1 >-l PRINT INK 1
+ 3 > BRIGHT 1,RT x<L 1 >,vC 1 ^;e»;RT
Y<i)ivU)jb|jRT x< 1 >, v< 1 ^+1 j OR I
GHT Oj INK Oj m "jRT x<l>fV<i5*
INK 1+3/ BRIGHT 1 * #.* I r RNL 1 >. 1
THEN GO TO 1030
I960 RETURN
0500 CLS
0505 PRINT AT 0, 10 >" INSTRUCT IUHS
R GRME FOR 2 PLflVERS" ' 1
"The three mice who live in the
CSyifeV hsve j. rtcf for the
cheese. Being btindi they mist
relw on their sense of smell
(uhich isn't too ^o^d either"?
to 1 oc te it."
B510 PRINT '"'Pick which mouse *o
a think will win, *nd how much t
ou're Prep sired to bet on
it < whole numbers onlw >. The
flsme ends if * Pliwer rams oat o
f Points."
0314 PRINT '"You uin 2 times wou
e st*k* (Plus the lt«k*) if
you Pick thew inner,"
9^15 PRINT ^"Pi-ess * key to eont
inuv"
S3 20 PRUSE 0
8323 RETURN
9O0O FOR i-i TO 21
9O10 FOR n-0 TO 7
9020 RERO s
9030 POKE USR CHR* M + M3>+n,s
9040 NEXT n
905O NEXT 1
9060 RETURN
90^0 DHTfl 32,71,143, 139. 12?^ I9#8
4, 12
5>0BO DRTR 0,140,204,232,252,233,
16,24
^090 ORTR 2,4,0,9,13,0,1,0
9100 DflTR 0, 120,252, 234, 235, ^55.
129, 193
9110 ORTR 0,192,192,120,192,240,
O, 120
9120 OPTR
9130 ORTR
3,253,225
9140 DATA €2,126,234,123,120.119
r 119, 1 19
9130 DPT A 233,0,255,255,0,235,23
5,235
9160 DRTR 222,62,126,126,126,126
i 124, 120
9170 DRTR 1,3,2,2,2,2.3-1
9100 DRTR 60,66,233, 129, 233- ftfe, 6
0,36
9190 DRTR 255,235,66,66,66,66,12
9, 129
9200 DRTR 0,0,7,15,31-63,127,255
9210 DRTR 0,0,255,254,234,230,24
2,226
9220 DRTR 66,66,66,^4,64,64,64,6
4
9230 DRTR 0,0,253,255,255,255,25
5,235
9240 DRTR 253,235,12^,12^,129,12
9, 233,235
9230 DRTR 1,3,127,100,63,4,4,36
9260 DRTR 116-136,16,46*39,39,36
, 32
9270 DOT -
4 , 56 , 0
1, 1,3,3, J, 7,0,30
234,233, £33, 253, 253, 2?
SINCLAIR USER January- 1984
L60QU6
50 CL*
70 PRINT »< 13*i - l#*9u» -13* li
7$ PRINT
0*J PRINT *
SORT TtflWb'"
t2) PRINT OUT PUS1
ENTER RESULTS"
*»RVE PRUGRRM fl
■SAVE PRULRAM U
ENTER NEW LlbT
*0 PRINT
100 PRINT
11U PRINT
l£0 PRINT
T1UNS"
Ufl PRINT " CJ>
140 PRINT - (4>
ND VARIABLES"
150 PRINT " (5)
NLY"
tee print " <6>
UF T£flHS"
190 PRINT RT 15,0j |J PRE^ R NUN&
ER BETWEEN i flNL- 6 "
200 PRINT BT ISj 0; "Pr#M 4 numb
»- b*tu**n l And £ "
£05 LET fl»-INKEYi
210 IF Ri-"" THEN CUTU 1*0
22B IF CODE R»>34 OR LUt?E R»<2*
THEN GUTO 190
230 LET R-CODE R*-£0
240 GOT& 10 00* A
1030 CL8
1040 PRINT "<. l-J*i»P ;1»*9U*' 13*1*
P j"
1050 FAST
1060 FOR I-l TO DIV
1070 FOR J-l TO £>< I >/8
107S LET
1030 FDR K-l TO Dt I >-i STEP 2
1085 LET R-l
1090 OOSUB ibkJU
10y5 IF R-0 THEN 00 TO 1130
1 100 LET A**T** I # K >
U 10 LET T«t I j K i-TK I # K+l j
1 1Z& LET T»f. I-Kfi )-fl«
U2*> LET SW-'SU+l
1130 NEXT K
U40 FOR K-2 Tu la i VI LP 3
1145 LET R-l
1150 GOSUB 1500
1151 IF R-0 THEN LOTU 1190
1 160 LET ftt*Ttt UK>
1170 LET TKI.KWKI.K+l)
11 00 LET T0t J-Ri
1165 LET SU-SU+1
L19« NEXT K
1195 IF SW-0 THEN UOTU 12 lid
1200 NEXT J
1210 NEXT I
1220 'sLGU
1230 PRINT RT 11 , 3j " Jortmfl cohip
l»tm H
1240 PAUSE 250
1250 LiUTU 10
1500 iF CuOE Tl< IjKj 19 >>LUDE T*'s
I,K+1,19> OR <LUI>E T»C I , k, 19.'j-CU
OE TK1»K+Lj19) RNO LOOE TWCt*&
1 7 >-t ODE T»t I<Ki 10 >>C006 T<K 1 * K+
1<17>-L0L>£ T»< I,K+1# lb j> UR (LOU
E T*< t*Ki 19>-CDDE f*UiK+l#i9J R
NO LODE T«< I,K, 1?>-L00E 1IU,K.1
8>-UJ0E T»C IiK4l, l^HXlOE TM,K
+1,1B> RNU LOOE T*t I*K* 17>>-C0DE
T*< l.K+l* 17 >) THEN LET R-0
1510 RETURN
L L*£
2040 PRINT 13*i*p "le#9ue' ia*i*
P >«
2050 PRINT RT 11,0, "WHICH DiVI*I
ON?"
2055 INPUT R
2060 IF R>DIV OR FKl THEN UOTU 2
LEAGUE was written by B M Haddow of Aiwa, ^
Clackmannanshire for the 16K ZX-81. Enter
#the League scores each week and the posi
tions are computed. It is menu-driven and on loading
a list of options is shown. You can enter results, sort
the teams, see the positions, save the program or
enter a new set of teams.
If you are dealing with the Canon League, change
the li 2" in line 3260 to If you break out of the
program accidentally "goro 10" will remm you to
the menu.
B9S
2070 PRINT RT HjOj "
■p
207*3 LET 1-0
if IXR»1^ THEN LEI
IJ
203U PRiNI *TU CuNUNUE THE PR j.N
Tul PKL'^S N-L riHU I U ""LUPY""
PRES'i "■■ | 2 1 ""'
LOy^ PRINT
*roy7 PRINT
2 106 PRINT "PRLV> NEULiNE TU LUN
1 1NUL"
2110 INPOT H*
(.L's
2130 PRINT "<lJt r., i*j wae = i ^
P
iri4a PRiNT RT i,0/"TtfiM F
w c* l f n P "
ii45 PRiNT
2130 FOR J*l TO bCR>-l
2160 LET B**T*r;R,j>
PRiNT £j»tl 10 12>>TRfc 12;L0
L J £ B*<.lJ.^Tflb 1^ i LOOE B«14>, Tflb
lb,C(j[>E b»(l^^jTHb ^l.COCJE fcl*M
6>jTRB 24jCCJ[>E tf»<i?>iTRb 2?yL0D
E BKlS'iTftb JU.LUL/L B*', 1 y
i£lfl NEXT J
INPUT R*
222t IF fl»-"2" THEN LuPY
£220 IP I-B THEN LUTO 10
2£4IE» FOR J-2 TO £l
2230 PRINT M
■I
2260 NEWT J
1^270 FOR J-20 TU DCftt
2280 LET B«-Tt<ft,J>
223«Q PRINT Bf,i TO 12>>TR0
t'L Bm. I'jJi TR0 l^j LUUE 14^ TrtB
IBjLODE B»<15JjTR6 2LjLUI>E E»C 1
6>,TRB 24 > LOOE MU7)jTfle 27jL£jD
E B»<10>;TRb 30 J LULL FJ»vl-jPj
2330 NEXT J
£^40 INPUT R*
iirf4t IF THEN COPY
2350 L010 10
3030 CLS
J040 PRINT ^13*imP l#Jiflu» l3Ki*
py
j IQfl PR I NT
2060 PRINT
3070 PRINT
JOSO PRINT
30M PRiNT
LL BE
UOLrJ TVPE
LOMS
3110 PRINT
THE LORL'a
"ENTRY UK RESULTS"
ERLH TERM IN TURN UL
U I SPLAYED flNb YUU bH
THE RESULT IN AS FOL
'F*R^1 ,TWO L'1L1T 1 j FOR
THRT TERM SLUREU"
3120 PRINT " THEN , TUU i^IulT^ FOR
THE LORE'S RLrRiNiT THRT TERM"
3130 PRINT "E. 0. R TERM THRT HO
t» WON 3-0 MJULD UE ENTEREt' RS
""Q30S3"""
3140 PRiNT "IF R TEAM Mb NOT PL
AY THEN PRE^j'j NEUIL1NE"
3150 PRINT m «PmtS NEWL1N
E TU LUNTINOE"
3160 INPUT R*
^170 LLS
^1U0 PRINT *<l3lT(U'U^9u*'t^>«
p?« rt
3190 PRINT RT 9 - 0; "di vision t*
«M "
3200 Fuft i-\ TU L/lV
90
SINCLAIR I'SER ^LifTUdirv /*M
FuR J-k TU Ul>
^220 PRINT AT b^iliflT b,L5;JJ M
"iflT 0 t ?$imi*d*t TU 12 >
4230 INPUT R*
Ji Jj iF n**"" THEN UUTU 3400
3233 IF LEN H%< >4 THEN OUlO 3230
J240 LET T»<Ll; J, 17>-CHR* (COOE T
•< I # J, 1? )+VRL t fl*X 1 TU 2 1 J >
^250 LET T*C 1- J- ifcu=UHR* tUJUE T
*' 1 1 J. 18>+VRL ^fl*t3 TO 4>>?
^253 LET RP-VRL fl*< 1 TO 2 >
-3254 LET BE-VRL fl*C 3 TO 4 .»
j£60 LET R«2*tRR>BB>Kflfl-&feJ >
32^0 LET T»< I * J * 1 y >-CHR« t tUOfc T
#t 1. J i 19 >*fl>
j*00 LET T*X I , J * UMtJ^CHW < LUl'L
T<t 1 j J j >
3310 LET T*< I, J, 13^UHR» < LUt'E T
* . - 13>+1 >
3400 NEXT J
J41U NEXT 1
3420 CUTU 10
4039 CLS
4040 PRINT M < 13*1*0 1 13*1*
P >"
4050 PRINT RT 11, 0J "WHEN YOU HRV
E 6£T UP THE TAPE REtURWiR PRE
NEWLINE"
40fe0 INPUT M*
4070 SAVE "LEflCiU*"
40G0 GOTO 10
5030 CLS
5O40 PRINT " l**.«au*
}040'PRINT "t 13*1*P ■ I 13*1*
P j"
5050 CLEAR
5660 PRINT RT 11 .IS J "WHEN YOU HRV
E SET UP THE TAPE RECORDER PRE
NEWL INE "
•5070 INPUT R*
50U0 3RVE "LERCU* "
^330 COTO 10
333a STOP
6030 LLS
6040 PRINT "< 1 2*1*»* l*#tt£#»12t&*
6050 PRINT RT 11,0; "ENTER NUMBER
OF DIVISIONS"
6060 INPUT u IV
6070 DIM OtOlV)
6000 PRINT AT 11 ,0;"
ti
6030 FOR 1-1 TO DIV
6100 PRINT RT 11,0, "ENTER NUMBER
OF TERM? IN DIV."iI
61 ie INPUT D< I >
6120 NEXT I
6130 LET H-0
6140 FUR L-l TO 01 V
6150 IF D<1 >H THEN LEI H-klj
6160 NEXT I
6170 D I PI T»<[?1VjH«L9:>
61 SB REM ***ENTER TEAMS***
6105 PRINT RT li,Wi"
■i
6190 FOR 1-1 TU DIV
6200 FOR J-l TU IX l>
6220 PRINT RT U ,0; "di^inon m jJ
j " t#*m tiox" iJi" M
6230 INPUT Ri
6240 IF LEN R*>12 THEN CUTU 6230
62.-50 LET T*< I # J
6260 NEXT J
6270 NEXT 1
628© PRINT RT 11 .Bj"
30 PRINT RT U,0j"HRS THE SER'i
ON STARTED ^V^H >«
630O INPUT Ri
£310 IF A»-"N" THEN LUlU 10
6320 IF R*<>"Y" THEN 0010 62J0
6325 PRINT RT 11,01 "
ii
6330 FOR 1-1 TU I' IV
6340 FOR J«l TO D< I 5
6350 PRINT RT 1 1 * 7j T*C 1 , J , 1 Tu 1
2>
6260 PRINT RT 12,0; "ENTER URML'i
PLAYED ,r
6370 INPUT R
63B0 LET T»< I,Ji 13 '-CKR* R
6390 PRINT RT 12, 12; "WON
6400 INPUT R
6410 LET T*< Ij J, 14 >-LHR« fl
6420 PRINT RT 12, 12j "DRAWN"
6430 INPUT fl
6440 LET T»t I, J, 15 J-CHR* fl
6430 PRINT AT 12,12* "LUST
6460 INPUT fl
6470 LET T«t I, J, ItHHW R
t4«0 PRINT RT 12,6>"LURLS FOR "
6430 INPUT R
fr5O0 LET Tia, J, I7j-C.HR*. R
6510 PRINT RT 12- 12; "AGAINST"
6520 INPUT fl
6530 LET T*< I, J, IB >-CHR» R
t540 PRINT RT 12,6 ■ '■POINTS SL ORE
b
6550 INPUT R
6560 LET T*d. J,iy)-LHR* H
6370 NEXT J
65tf0 NEXT 1
*5'3fj 00 TO JQ
SINCl-AlR USER January 1984
Draw a large cube with your IK
ZX-81 using this program writ-
ten by P Cohn of Noranda,
Australia.
itt FUR 1 = 14 TU 28
20 QUSUB 2*JbJ
m FOR 1-1 TO 6
40 PRINT TAB < 14-1 >i J TAB 14
>"*"jTRB >;"*"; TAB 2&;"* N
50 NEXT I
60 FOR 1-7 TO 21
70 GGSUB 230
60 PRINT TAB 28;"*";
90 FOR 1-1 TO 6
100 FDR J-7 TO £0 STEP 7
110 PRINT TAB J;"* 11 J
120 NEXT J
130 NEXT I
140 PRINT TAB 7;"*";
150 FOR 1-14 TO 2B
160 GOSUB 290
170 FOR 1-1 TP £
180 PRINT TAB 7j"*";TAB < 14-1);
"*";TflB 2l> "*";TAB C 28-15;"*" J
190 NEXT I
200 FOR 1-7 TO £1
£10 GOSUB 290
220 STOP
290 PRINT IBB
300 NEXT I
31 Q RETURN
When this program is RUN the
runway will appear as a speck
on the horizon, and your dis-
tance From it (range), height and bearing
will be given. Before you overshoot the
runway use cursor keys 5 to 8 to bring
your bearing and your height to 0.
Written by Simon Hesmondalgh of
Mihuhorpe, Cumbria for the IK ZX8L
1
*» PRINT "UHftT LEVEL? 1-HflRD 7
-ER^Y"
£ INPUT ft
7 IF R<i OR H>? THfcN GOT U 5>
a CU3
10 LET R-VPL "30"
1£ LET F-INT < RN[>*t> >
2« LET B-VAL "30"
£ts LET
Z7 LET E-VflL "10"
30 PLOT fl-l
40 PLUT B,L
■5© LET R-R-l
55 LET C-L-l
LLT fe-fi+Jl
i£0 iF INKEY»-"V THEN LET F-F-
1
tJQ IF lNKEY*-"fc M THEN LET E-E-
l
i4S IF lNKEY»-"7" THEN LEI E-E+
1
ISO IF INKEV**"dl" THEN LET F=-F +
1
lbU PRINT HT rj,0i "RRNLE-'NCJ h HE
IL.NT-' iEi "BERRiNlj-" jFj
170 IF L«e AND L-U 1 HLN ST UP
1«U IF C*0 AND E-B fiNb F-0 THEN
PPINT "GCIUI^ LHNDlNLi"
16* IF U» THEN STuP
99
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
:
REPLICATE was
written by Russel
Shaw, aged 1 4 a of Hc-
mel Hempstead, Herts,
Using the cursor keys you
avoid the robot "X n to throw
him ofTthe trail and leave red
herrings behind you. If he
hits your trail he will be de-
stroyed but he can form a
replica which you must
avoid. Replicate is for the
POKE 16410, ij
FUR R-fl TO 23
PRINT m 1=1,0; "<32*1SP:<"
NEXT R
LET U-CUOE:
LLT L-L(JL>L " "
LET 0-<RND*LUUE 9*" ,'+L-U0E
"(*5>"
S LET E-CRND*LUOE "M" >+CUL>£
■■t 95 > N
t0 PRINT AT h< Qi "t INVUV'jflT Co
Ei "< 1NVX>" jflT Biti "t ENVj >"
11 LET B-e+CINKLY»-"fc- M >-< INKEY
M 7" J
12 LET C"L*C INKEY*""B" >-(. INKLY
*-"5 N >
13 PRINT AT B,Lj
14 IF PEEK tPEEK 1639©+£*>e*PEfc
K 1G399W.0DE ^ft*)" THEN GOTO L
DOE M ,"
15 PRINT AT Dj E> "Ca») ,k
It LET D»D+< RNO+LUUE "97">-1.5
17 LET E-E+< RND*LU£'E "9?"^l.b
16 IF B-B THEN LET B-£2
13 IF B-23 THEN LET 6-1
£0 IF L-B THEN LET L-3B
21 IF L-31 THEN LET L-l
22 IF RND>. % THEN LOTO LQUL "t
23 PRINT RT D,£j
£4 IF PEEK <PEEK 163 J&+i;:5t*PEfc
K l£393J-C0l>E "UNV, > ' THEN GOTO
CODE "2"
25 GOTO CODE ■ , <9*>"
26 FUR Z-a TO 21
27 PRINT AT Z.Qi" *ou *r* kiU
#d 4au hit j. pi In* "
2B NEXT Z
29 LGIU CUi'E "'*92
38 FOR G»l TCJ 50
31 PRINT FIT D j Ej '
* C 9¥ >"
32 NEWT (j
34 FOR H-B TO £1
35 PRINT RT H,Qj 1
36 NEXT H
37 FOR 1-1 TO 75
38 NEXT 1
39 FOR J-0 TU 21
40 PRINT RT J,(di '
id thm robots dead'
41 NEXT J
42 uuTu L
'<9t)'\iAT U.Ej
'ccm9r*tul*ton
'th« robot* d*
SINCLAIR USER jtatMary
Ml
1 BORDER t,'- PRPER 6' LLS ■ UO
b POKE 2Jk0y,:j0 = LLS i LET hs
=-lO
10 LET x=lO
20 FOR n=~il TO 10000
JO IF x-Jl THEN LET x«30
_b IF y=Q THEN LET x=l
4U PRINT RT £,x; "s"
58 PRINT INK 2>RT 18i INI <RND
70 IF INKEY*«"&" THEN LET X"»x
£0 IF INKEY*-"e" THEN LET x**x
+ 1
yO PUKE 236^2 PRINT RT 21
.31;" "
lOO IF SCREEN* <fc,x>="*" THEN
00 TU 1000
110 NEXT r<
L20 cts
130 PRINT RT 5;b; INK 3;*I4#U d
one* You have scored "jflT £h 10;
ink ^"10000"
14Q PRINT "* You have come to
the end of the9ame, th*ri9» line 2
0 to make it lon9er ,f
160 PRINT INK 2}*'" Lh*n9e th
e number^ of""*"" m ImeSS to ma
ke it harder"
170 PRINT "'Tress any ke/'t PR
USE Q CLS = CO TU 1010
180 STOP
FOR n~0 TO 7
210 RE RD d> PUKE IJSR "s"+n,d
220 NEXT n
230 DRTR 102,102,60,6^1^3,66,6
0/24
240 PRINT " Rvoid the obstacle
s by moviri9 left and ri9ht usmfc
»»*$«* and "'»&""" = PRINT ""Any
key to start" = PRUSE & RETURN
1000 BEEP -t«,-30' CLS - PRINT I
NK URT 2,5 j "You hit an obstacle
if
1010 PRINT INK 2jRT 5,5; "You sc
ored " ;n-l>" Points"
1020 IF n>hs THEN LET hs-n-1 ■ C*
0 TO 1060
1OO0 PRINT RT 8, bj "Highest score
so far ";RT 10,5>"is ";hsj",by
" ) a*
1040 00 TO Z070
1060 INPUT "Enter your name", a* 1
00 TO 10:jO
1070 PRINT INK -i ; RT lb, b; "Rnoth
er Z4o? C any key >'" < PRUSE 0
1660 LLS r CO TU 10
•J-i
SINCLAIR USER )jmjrv /.W-/
SPECTRUM
SOUND SYNTHESISER PLUS
DUAL I/O PORTS
♦ Cymes fully assembled, tested and guaranteed.
♦ Supplied with very comprehensive documentation,,
with demonstration and utility programmes on tape.
♦ Uses the more powerful AY 3 8910 chip, unlike
most other sound add-ons.
♦ Gives 3 channels of sound with envelope control
for speci&l effects.
♦ Has own integral amplifier and speaker and can be
used to amplify the spectrum sound.
♦ 2 ]/0 port, which can be used to interface joysticks,
printer, etc.
♦ Plugs straight into the back of your spectrum. No
wiring or soldering
CAN BE USED WITH BOTH
16K&4SK.
ONLY £28 + 80p <P & P)
Send cheque or postal order to: —
Signpoint Ltd.,
166a Glynn Road,
London E.5.
Teh 01-986 8137.
ttv e
jar" 1
K>ij 0 for irtritw
One figure
that can
blow your
computer's
mind
A voltage spike in the mom? supply can wreak havoc with
a com puli^r 11 can measure mon 1 than r-MHHlV - tar ahove
your equipment's sale I v limits.
In Ihe office, it leads to program crashes and I lie kiss of
hours of expensive work.
Fur a supplier, it can mean frequent callbacks, damage to
equipment and damage to your reputation.
Voltage spikes happen too often - and all it takes to guard
against them is a plug.
JiMi's PniverCJecmer it < t>sts)Wil £tUi5 + VAT, fits in plurr
of an ordinary plug, and limits any power surgH in o wife level.
Fit it to ej/ery computer und v.d.u., and n voltage spike should
never damage your business ogqin.
Wrile for your nearest stockist
PowerCleaner
Because it's not worth the risk
H&K Electrical Products Limited. Temple Fields, ilarl < .%
] ss< v< M20 2BG, Tel: lf rt rk>w |0^7EJ| :»4fiBl Telex: HI 140
SSSftSflf 55 2S5S
II i f \ 11 1
in
1 g^^jSS^SSS^"
5TNCI-AIR USHR January I$M
<*5
STOP PRESS
ZX MICROFAIR
FEBRUARY4th
1984 AT ALLY
PALLY
Befirst in the q ueue and save money !
Send for advance tickets now —
only £1 for adults or 50p for kids,
(Prices on the day - £1.25 and 60p)
Send Cheque/ P.O. and Stamped Addressed Envelope to
Mike Johnston, ZX Microfair, 7 1 Park Lane, Tottenham,
London N 17 OHG.
(Make cheques payable to ZX MICROFAIR)
EXH IBITORS! Call Mike Johnston now on 0l-8QL9il2j
YOUR MICRO COULD TEACH YOU
ATHING OR TWO ABOUT THE FRENCH
A home computer is an expensive toy; and, if playing
games is all you do with \t, a toy is all it is.
Now, using the New Pe rs on al Com pute r &
Su perlearn ing System (PCSS) you can have fun with
your micro and learn something at the same time,
PCSS language courses comprise 1 2 lessons on
3 audio cassettes used in conjunction with a fourth
software cassette , to add a new dimension to learning.
Initially the software package enables you to see
the words you re learning; then, as your vocabulary
develops, it will test your skill in your new language.
Anyone can learn this way - no previous knowledge
of the language is required The unique PCSS method
develops your overall learning and memory skills in a
way thats both relaxing and enjoyable.
Each PCSS language pack - French, German or
Spanish - contains a comprehensive
the 1 2 audio lessons and the function of the interactive
software, Additionally the booklet expands on the
broader benef its of the PCSS method.
At only £29,95 per pack PCSS costs less than other
home language courses yet it offers much more in
terms of education and enjoyment.
Complete the coupon below and try PCSS for
yourself -youll be amazed what your micro can
■
COMPUTERISED EDUCATION SYSTEMS
BBC Micro
Acorn Electron Micros )
3 Ml money back, auargnlee il tio1 completely &atisli#d
id your cheque or Postal Order tor £29-95 made payable to
MDA Madon Associates Limited. 561 Upper Richmond Road West.
London 5W14 7ED, (ZX81 users £26.95,
or, alternatively phone Teledata 01 200 0200 now, hoes open 24 hours
and quote your Visa. Diners Club. Access or Amencan Express number I
Tick whicn Audio /software rj^kaqe you require \ Prices include VAT •
Add £145 for postage and packing on each order ) |
Please supply the following Audio/software Packages >
FRENCH □ GERMAN □ SPANISH Q |
M— Mr |
M
acfune Type
Memory Sire
96
SINCLAIR tAShK January 1984
CONSULTANTS
NIGHTFUTETI
\pa ill maeftme cod* werinwi of out
li^hlv sutotstflul High! simulator Men*
*t|h perspective cockpit ww, improved
imcrumeciis, dwtufcd map, four be»cora
and other enhanoemBfltt . Multiple levels
u" plav to rJevfJop your flying skilFt,
Complete with printed flkghl debrief al
11* end oi your flight - iirjned by the
{KOO/im mttWrfl The nnj»l reAlsHiC
-.iTi-j-diu* on the market, o* 4SK
Spectrum
HfWSON
CONSULTANTS
vDUR TASK; "» direct in C omir»g aircraft
from haldiflU, Itachf to rurnwiy - imoottilv.
%tit\y and expoditimjilv-
YOUH INSTRUMENTS Radar ia«ffl
shtiwinfl aircraft call iigns, Hip* arvd i?ails.
Four stack displays giving alt nude, leading,
uaeed and v ».
review -quotes
"directions are weH explained" . . . -
HCVV Sep'embcr 1 3
, . . "hi^hlv abiortung - rery imple-
mented'" WHIGH MICNOSeolemhw
"Every pC4Hl)le variable has lm«?n p*Cr
gr*miTwd into ftm game" PCN July 14
• mmemtlv challenging".. SOFT
Auguii
EI
Access
Bare laycart 1^0
n rnrm rrT
'lease send me total i
further jnfoimatiori
with no obligation U ^ cfr ™ w^w/Stf
KELWOOD COMPUTER CASES Downs Row. Moor gate, Rothertiam Teh (0709)63242
SINCLAIR I 'SI R 7^m,m- M4
SINCLAIR ADD-ONS
1. COMPUTER CASE
Attractively desig ne d hardwear i ng spectrum t
2XS1 computer case. Houses computer,
printer, tape recorder etc Only £11.95 plus
£2,50 P + P.
2 WEARS AVER
This compact unit (4' x 3 x 1 v 9 > has a
SAVE /LOAD switch 3 nd a 9 volt ON /OFF switch
for screen clearing. Simply plug in your ear
,ino MIC plugs and your power plug.
SPECTRUM Ref WSS £9.75
ZXB1 Ref ZXS C9.50 PIUS P + P 60p
3 COMPUTER STANDS
POWER BASE
Raised stand for ZX81 and spectrum Fitted
LOAD .'SAVE switch, and power ON /OFF for
screen clearing. Saves wear and tear on
connections. Front lip holds computer m
place No soldering, comes complete with an
necessary plugs and cables.
ZXSi Ref PBZXBt £11.25
witn DuiiMn wobole stopper pbzxbtw £17,25
spectrum Ref pbsi £15.50
4. NEW Spectrum Sound, with built-in variable
sound amplifier PBS2 £19.90
plus 95pP + P
5, 16K and 64K Memory extension
FABULOUS SINCLAIR ADD-ON OFFER
FOR 2X81 OWNERS
These are the real thing ZX81 memory
extensions made for the USA and specifically
screened to stop radio interference.
- no soldering . easy to fit ■ : simply ptat In
tnrOUBn WODOIP or
6 WOBBLE STOPPERS
At last, a fool proof method of avoiding zxBi
white outs caused oy Ram Pack woPPie simply
turn the plastic thumbscrew until the Ram-
Pack is held firmly against the zxai. No
soldering, no stick-on pieces, just common
sense! Flat or tilted models,
targe, fiat or tilted for ZX81 and Ram Pack and
Printer Ref LW £5.75 flat
LTW £6,75 tilted PIUS 60P P + P
small tilted for mi and Ram-Pack Ref. STW
£6.2 5 plus GOpP + P
Small nat zxei and Ram-Pack Ref sw
E5.25plus GOpP+P
7 TAPE LOAD ANXIETY?
yu load takes the frustration out of loading
yourzxsi or Spectrum programmes
i helps to ensure programme load ever
time - monitors tape output level - gives
positive save indication - detects blank
tape without disconnecting cassette wire
* ready to use — no wiring
TL £19.99 plus 60pP + P
8. STACKPACKS
micro care Stack packs have been designed
to be used independently or In conjunction
with interface r. The STACKPACK has a neat
housing for the Sinclair Transformer and has
room enough for cable stowage
All STACKPACKS have SAVE t LOAD and ON / OFF
switches to simplify these tasks and save
needless wear and tear on plugs and sockets
STACKPACK ONE - Tne complete BACKPACK
for the Spectrum — SAVE /LOAD ON /OFF. fully
variable sound amplification - three built in
13 amp sockets with mains switch and neon
indicator plus mains cable and plug Ref bpi
E7G.O0pius£1.50P + P
9. FANTASTIC 2XS1 & SPECTRUM
SPEECH SYNTHESISER
• Making amazing speech effects with your zx
Spectrum.
• specially designed for use with your
spectrum. Just plugs in, no dismantling or
soldering size x 5V*" x 1".
• No power pack, leads, batteries or other
extras.
■ Ample volume from buiit-m loudspeaker,
Manual volume Control on panel Can be
plugged in to existing hi-fi system.
• uses no memory addresses
■ Free Dictionary of Sounds
SS1 Speech Synthesiser
E59.OOPIUS750P + P
SS5E§ BB fl«P ssBr
nTfully or white out d ori
throuBb *<*5 * mi a V^ jr sce l navetn your
please cne c« yj" " b acfc Q f the f**jL viewed
Sossessio^ « tne a* ^ v be^na tne strips ft
metallic c?JJ"ct sep3 at ng m B ine
in the senes a*
COMPUTERS®
■ no toss of
white out
Fully Guaranteed For 12
ME1 16 USA £15.99
M£1 &d USA £43 .25
plUS 60f) P + P
7-9 Thane works. Thane Villas, London W7 Tei 01609 7919
^ Pieasesend ref
Name.
Address
I Occupation Date
I i e ndose cheo ue / postal orde r f or .
jp made out toMlcroCare or 1 would like to
^ ^ pay by Access or Barclay card
Prices are correct at time of going to press
Spectrum
KM
A brand new original all
scrolling super colour
animated tuneful
b m u I tf picture
puzzle program
A masterpiece of ingenuity
to keep the whole family
amused absorbed and
enthralled until the next blue moon
A puzzle for all puzzle haters!
You'll be amazed as picture after pic
unfolds as reward for your skill,
patience and luck.
You'll be staggered by the
number of pictures shoe-horned
into Spectrum, but you'll never
know how many until Jumbly
itself tells you and
rewards you efforts
with the Jumbly Code.
» » ► ► ► » »
COMPETITION
The Jumbly Code entities
you to enter the Jumbly
Competition to desrgn a
picture for Jumbiy II due out in J 984.
Winners win receive over £1 50 and
have their design and name included in
the new program.
di Ironies
OK Tronic* Ltd., Unit 6, Shire Hill Industrial Estate, Saffron
Walden, Essex CB1 1 3 AQ. Tel: f0799) 26350 f 24 ttrsj 5 Unes
JUMBLY 48 K Spectrum (Joystick COitipatJaMe|
£6.95 + 50p p&p ]
AvaltJWe from SOOTS. W.H. SMITH, L AiKt \ SPECTRUM. JOHN MENKES Artd
goad computer sof tv* n re %icnk\m Throughout th*» UK or dircn' for
only + SOppos-I and packing.
Interface: * for Spectrum
* 1k on board memory * own
rear edge connector - for
printers etc * compatible with
ALL standard joysticks
Joystick: * self centring
* 8 directional microswitched
action * 2 independent fire
buttons Tape: * easy to use
program, the interface
WORKS ON ALL SOFTWARE
* keeps a record of all your
games - so you only need to
tell it about each game once!
More
fun & games from your
Spectrum
with the intelligent
interface + program + joystick
and for only 90
«
CAMBRIDGE
COMPUTING
CaPfi-tHitJcj€f Computing
1 Benson Sired Cambridge CB4 3QJ
Telephone 0223 322905
To Cambridge Computing
i Benson Street. Cambridge CB4 3QJ
Telephone 0223 322905
Name.
Address.
Please send me
Joystick, Interface and Tape at £34.90f~l - Interface and Tape at £27 90( ]
Joystick oniy at f_7 90Q - For Spectrum
I enclose cheque/postal order * for £ made payable to
Cambridge Computing
' delete as necessary
BUM
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
101
Programs lighten the load
of a Methodist minister
The Rev John Wall uses his Spectrum to plan services and
visits in his parish. Flo Barker reports
IN THE BEGINNING, then: was
the word, . . then there was The
Plan. . . and now there is the ZX-
81. The problem of The Plan, a time-
table of preachers in the churches in an
area is a real headache for Methodist
ministers.
Hours of head- scratching are spent
and reams of paper used matching
preachers and churches but now the
problem has been cracked thanks to the
Rev John Wail and his ZX-81.
Wall used to spend a morning with
another minister determining which
preachers would take the Sunday ser-
vices in the following three months in
the 16 churches in his area. Each lay
preacher, who perhaps had other com-
mitments on particular days, or trans-
port problems, had to be allocated
suitable times and churches. Congrega-
tions would want a variety of preachers
visiting their churches, rather than the
same faces recurring.
Wall, who is in the Newcastle-upon-
Tyne (West) circuit, saw a perfect op-
portunity to put his ZX-81 to work. "I
thought it was an ideal problem for the
computer to accept the maximum
amount of offers from local preachers
and to make sure every church has a
preacher every Sunday," says Wall,
who bought his ZX-81 a little more than
a year ago.
"The Plan is very complicated. In
my area, seven out of 10 services are
taken by local lay preachers rather than
ministers. Those preachers lay down
conditions on when they are free to
preach and in what areas."
Months of hard work later, he pro-
duced a program which prevents him
interrupting his busy schedule to devote
hours to the plan of services. "You
enter the preachers 1 requirements; then,
each quarter, you enter the churches
and the dates," he says.
"The computer searches two of the
factors in a random way — picks out a
random Sunday and a random service.
Then it searches through the preachers
in accordance with how many appoint-
ments they offer. It works its way dow r n
until the particular slot is filled."
That, says Wall, gives him a morn-
ing's work in 15 minutes. If he does not
like what the computer provides, he can
ask it for another time-table. Now he
has adapted the program for his 48K
Spectrum which he bought recently.
"The Spectrum will cope with 40
services and 40 local preachers. It uses
about 31 K of program, which leaves 9K
unused," he says.
Wall, aged 51, who has a degree in
mathematics and physics from Newcas-
tle University, believes his program
could be adapted to save Methodist
ministers hours of work.
"There are 500 circuits throughout
the country. Some are small but my
programs could help with the bigger
lip
I'll!
ones. As the computer would be used
only four times a year, ministers could
easily borrow one if necessary."
His services program is not the only
way Wall uses his computers to lighten
the load of looking after nearly 1^000
members of the Methodist church.
"When I moved here from Stockton-
on-Tees last year I found I had far more
people than I had previously, so I decid-
ed to do a program for the ZX-8 1 to deal
with the problem of visiting them sys-
tematically.
"I based the program on everyone
having one visit a year although some,
like the elderly housebound, need
more,"
1 1 took him a month to make a pro-
gram which allows him, every Monday
morning, to obtain a list of people who
should be visited that week,
"I think it would take me nearly half
an hour every day to work out whom I
should visit. Now it sets my mind at
rest, because I know I am visiting sys-
tematically as many as I can. If I do not
visit someone it tells me again and again
until I make the visit."
At the end of a week he tells the
computer how many visits he has made
and the system works so well that he has
even been able to program it to allow
him July and August off from routine
visiting to catch up on some gardening.
"The data entry was fairly simple
and a program such as this could be
useful for all kinds of people who make
routine visits, such as health visitors,"
he says. Wall is still working on the
program to improve it for the Spectrum
but at present he is satisfied the ZX-81
has saved him even more time in his
busy programme of duties.
"I am interested in getting as much
js 1 can from the equipment I have," he
says.
He is happy with his ZX-81 with its
home-made Maplin keyboard, its print-
er and a 16K RAM pack. He bought the
Spectrum for its extra memory and
facilities and uses the computer with
two tape recorders and a black-and-
white portable television. He finds his
keyboard invaluable, as it means the
RAM pack or printer cannot be
knocked by mistake.
"The reliability of saving and loading
and its extra memory made me swap to
the Spectrum but I am very pleased still
with the ZX-81, I do not bother with
colour and although I play games oc-
casionally, like The Hobbit, I soon lose
interest. I am concerned with data
handling for the job."
After graduating from university,
Wall spent some years teaching at Rich-
mond and ihcn Darlington before 1 null-
ing as a minister. His first appointment
was in Suffolk and then he moved to
Norwich for six years as a circuit minis-
ter. He spent five years at Chesterfield
102
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
User of the Month =
before moving to Stockton-on-Tees and,
finally, to Ponteland, near Newcastle,
where he lives with his wife and three
children.
Years ago he toyed with the idea of
making a valve-operated analogue com-
puter and constructed an amplifier for
if. K I never really finished it/ 1 he says.
Now his study has a neat computer
corner beside a wall lined with rows of
theological books and pictures of local
landscapes.
It was the lure of having tried a
friend's computer which made the for-
ward-thinking minister decide to buy a
ZX-81. ,l I did all the programs in the
book and learned how it works. I know
Basic now but I am not so good on
machine code," he explains.
Wall is a family man and his younger
son, Simon, shares his interest in com-
puters, although his first love is for
graphics. <+ I suppose one of my original
excuses Tor buying a computer was for
my children, to let them grow up com-
puterate as well as numerate and liter-
ate," he says*
That belief, combined with his teach-
ing experience, led him to compile a
teaching program which he sees as hav-
ing great potential for Sunday School,
"I took the story of Moses and made
a program asking questions which can
be ansu r ered by referring to the Bible."
If a youngster keys-in the correct an-
swer he is awarded points and given an
encouraging message. If he needs help,
he is told a Bible reference.
That program was a great hit with a
group of teenagers Wall took on a week-
end trip recently. "It acted as a stimu-
lus. When we played the Moses game
the children all thumbed through their
Bibles for the answers. Otherwise they
might not have done so.
"I think this kind of thing has great
possibilities. W r hat is needed in educa-
tion is for people to think about how
you can put things together to make a
program which will teach. If I can make
a format w T hich would allow people to
type-in questions and answers to make
their own programSj there are plenty of
people in the church with computers
who will help."
His schemes have aroused plenty of
mlcres! already among his church mem-
bers, many of whom are intrigued when
he tells them his routine visit was mas-
ter-minded by a computer.
He is planning a meeting for church
members to try to develop his ideas and
has already been in touch with other
Methodist ministers about his Plan of
Service program,
"Some ministers from the circuits
think it is fine and others think 'bloom-
ing machines'. There are always some
Luddites in anything."
He is planning to show r his assistants
how to operate his programs and is
hoping for help wilh one particular
project. By using a Campbell system
master file on the Spectrum, he is com-
piling a list of the 400 households in his
area.
He has also added useful information
such as addresses, telephone numbers,
marital status and to what organisa-
tions, such as the choir or women's
fellowships in the church, they belong.
"I have put on only about 85 house-
holds so far and 1 am hoping for a little
help programming in the rcsr," he says.
Wall is fall of ideas for his computers
— and not just for church affairs. He
£ I think there are
computers all over
the country waiting
for problems to solve*
spends any free time he can cxperimem-
ing with his equipment.
As a chess enthusiast, an interest he
shares with his elder son Timothy, who
was the Rriiish under- 16 champion two
years ago, he sees several ways of using
computers in that field. Recently he
compiled a program to let ihe computer
act as a clock to monitor the time
betw r een moves in a chess game.
"I am also thinking about the possi-
bility of making a program to help run
chess tournaments, which needs a par-
ticularly logical approach to organise
the complicated pairings," he explains.
Another scheme which involves the
church is his idea for a computer-run
scroll notice-board of church events. He
has ear-marked an appropriate position
for a screen behind ;i pane oi uLiss at the
church front door.
A word-processor, too, he believes,
would have great potential in helping
ministers to write their sermons,
*T prefer notes on the back of an
envelope but a word processor would be
useful if you were typing a sermon and
wanted to make alterations."
The idea which has given him the
most satisfaction, though, is his Plan of
Service program. "Factories and busin-
esses use that kind of program to get the
maximum use of a plant. This will make
up the Methodist Plan for any part of
the country and I do not see why the
church should not use it."
Eventually, Wall envisages the whole
church using computers which could be
linked to provide a nation-wide net-
work.
+ 'I think there are computers all over
the country waiting for people to give
them problems to solve. That's where
.the blockage lies — in finding work for
them. This country is extremely lucky
to be so advanced with the micro-chip. "
He believes people must overcome
their distrust of the unknown and ac-
cept that computers can be put Co work
to help with many of the tasks of daily
life.
"Many people think if they are to be
interested in computers they will have
to understand how they work and fri-
able to program thcm> yet there are
hundreds of thousands of people who
can copy programs and there should be
millions who can use them.
"You do not have to be able to
understand computers — just to know
how to use them,"
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
103
Two beauties from Peekay,
(Cheques payable to PEEK AY SOFTWARE)
Tick here
64x32 SCREEN
THE AMAZJNG MA/I [ ]
C.W,G. to:
PEEK AY SOFTWARE
38 BERTON CLOSE
BJ UNSDON, SWINDON,
WILTS SN2 4BE
Address
GAME FREAKS
IF YOU WANT JOY . , . STICK TO US
We can supply Joysticks for most
leading micros including Atari,
Commodore, Oric,
Spectrum and Dragon.
For further details
phone 01 -203 6366/7
and ask for David Bishop.
VNV The UK's leading
VULCAITV Joystick Distributor
ELErFfinilllSLIU *&EimWB£&
KERIMOW SOFTWARE S
E
RVI
IC
ES LTD
SOFTWARE
LIBRARY
FOR
SPECTRUM
Low cost weekly hirE of the best arcade games, adventures,
utilities, languages and business programs
• Membership only E6.00 for 12 months.
• Program hiring only 80p {plus 25p p&pi.
• Free fully descriptive catalogue for members.
• New titles constantly being added.
• Purchase new programs at discount prices,
• Return of pest service.
• All tapes despatched using first class post.
• We have full permission and licences from the leading software
publishers, to whom royalties are paid-
Compare these features with our competitors and you will see
why more Spectrum owners are joining the Kernow Software
Library, Join today by clipping the coupon below or send a S.A.E.
for lurther details.
YES. please send me my free catalogue and selection sheet. I
enclose my E6 cheque/Postal Order,
NAME
ADDRESS
TEL
Send to:
KERIMOW SOFTWARE LIBRARY
{Dept. SUI
55 ELIOT DRIVE, ST GERMANS
SALTASH, CORNWALL PL 12 5NL
THE KERNOW SOFTWARE
EXCHANGE CLUB
Exchange your unwanted commer; .. SPECTRUM tapes at tow
cost with no time limits imposed.
• Membership only C4.00 for 12 months.
■ Exchange only fl.4 5inc P&P
■ No time limits imposed
• Exchange what you like, when you like.
• Return of post service.
Join today by clipping the coupon below or send s.a.e. for further
details.
□ YES, please enrol me as a member of the exchange dub. I
enclose my £4 cheque/postal order.
Q I also enclose ; tapetsl for exchange, please send me the
current availability list and exchange voucherlsf {€1.45 per ex-
change).
NAME , ...
ADDRESS ,
POST CODE
Send to:
THE KERIMOW SOFTWARE EXCHANGE CLUB
(DEPT. SUI
55 ELIOT DRIVE. ST GERMANS.
SALTASH CORNWALL PL12 5NL
SPECIAL OFFER — JOIN BOTH SOFTWARE LIBRARY & EXCHANGE CLUB-ONLY £9,00
104
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
*
By the flick of a switch you could
unleash the power of Genon in your
own living room) But by thoughtful
strategic play you could overcome
Genon.
"Hie only way this can be done is by
destroying the powerful computer that
controls all things.
After being transported to the
Corridors of Genon youll need your wits
about you to master the door codes and
venture through the corridors to locate
the computer. While this is going on the
computer will know your exact
whereabouts and try to force you into a
mistake by closing doors around you.
The computer also controls Bogul - the
guardian of the corridors who can reduce
your thought power (ESP) every time it
finds and bogulises you, so you'd better
listen out for its approaching footsteps!
Should you Locate the computer and
should your ESP be sufficient youll have
to pull on all your energy to try and
master the 3 digit self destruct code.
With this done, now is the time to
escape from the corridors. No door codes
to worry about this time. But its no easy
task as Bogul will have cloned - how
many times though? Well that depends
on how long you took to crack the self
destruct code. There could be as many as
eight! And you'd better be careful as
only one Bogulisation and you've had it!
Full colour graphics, sound effects
and, of course, 3D machine code action
as you would expect from Malcolm
Evans 'the 3D expert'*, to push your 4HK
Spectrum to its limits, 'Corridors of
Genon' is supplied with a keyboard
overlay and is also compatible with the
Kempston joystick.
If you survive this you could try , . .
Products available from
W H Smith, Biwte,
j rfjjj * Menzies,, Spectrum
f tsfifil 111* 1 ! fl I Croup. HMV, *nd
■J^T^yT^ZZ^ M leading department
^^CAJJr J^JCJj^ k computer stores
FREEFOST Bath BA2 4TD Tel. 0225-3 1W24
Mail order by rehim-
* Computer & Video Games
SINCLAIR L'SER January /-WW
105
THE BEST RANGE
of SOFTWARE
for HOME MICROS
Also
VIDEO
GAMES
for ATARI
COLECO
fhlTELLIVISIQN
VECTREX
HOW M STOCK
Vast Number of Titles for
ATARI 400/800 SPECTRUM ZX 81 APPLE
BBC MICRO VIC 20 - DRAGON LYNX
ORIC TEXAS T199 COMMODORE 64
THE LARGEST SELECTION
OF GAMES IN THE WORLD
m
Ml
Branches BRIGHTON 5? Western FUwr
NOTTINGHAM 31 LislerGate
BIRMINGHAM 141 NewSireeT
BOURNEMOUTH 60 Comrrw-foal Road
BRISTOL 15 firoadmead LONDON 22 O*
Send NOW for
MAIL
ORDER
CATALOGUE
ford Streel
Main Computer & Mail Order Branch; m n h h U
■22k Oxford St -London W1A2LS
■
i
■
i
i
NAME .
ADDRESS.
MB*
THE NORTHERN DISCOUNT SOFTWARE CENTRE
**++*+**•**+ •»•»*****♦»*
YES!!! WE CAN SUPPLY YOU WITH Tin SI
OUTSTANDING PROGRAMS AT OUR SPECIAL
DISCOUNT PRICK!!!
DEIH'C 1 10 , FROM Till. Ki:iA[[ PRICES,
M'P i J HI U
Pru ■
Sujifilirr
\i,f[m |
inc VAT
MAKN mini it
tK'Xr BY 1 h
s w
HI M K 1 R YSTAI
CAJtNl I
H.-il I Ji Of I HI r HI\4.S
CK VSTAJ
HlK
.
I'll v . 1 1 ps m WTFK
I \i \ STAI
ON .U.I KS ( W 1
1)1 'KM -
tHK
sea iiarrif.h Ai t m k
iJlftl'l 1
MiK
\HC' MM \
1 M Al .1 S F
ItiK
"1 KJ
*s4 : M 1 f * 1 1 1 Bi
1 M M . 1 \ 1
I'jk
1(
J.
Ml 1 51 1 H H MS
1 \ 1 \i . l\ \
1 1.^
Mi -1 \K Mil. 1
IM.U.IM
MK
|l MM Ml - JVK
IMAIilNI
K.k
i IIP
/JI* ZAP
IMU.IM
MIK
i.m
//t H >M
IMMUNE
4flK
X
% 3IP
srt \ 1
l\4 J \ [J YE
P'l.\l IKMHk
MI'l.HflL'KM'
-MK
x
i mi in sum 1 & IK H )K
Mi l W PI KM'
iitK
1 1 y't
1 1 H H.. i-U tl V*. 1 1 1 l|i
M> 1 Hi )l'|tM.
MfK
MASTEK ClIKSS
MJPtKI > ■ . 1 \
44ft
y
v 1 '. 1 ' M \ K 1 PI \
M 1 h K I i ■ 1 1 \
*0K
M M i M-J.K TH X 1]
MjKkl P CtKN
IAK
J
MINI s i il SATi RNv
Mthk< PtifiN
1 r>K
w
HETI H\ Tn EAftTH
Kl >N4.
( h | i, \
i k
V
jsHMAorncwMf
4 K RAN
1 1 k
Jt
1 )M .L.F.H
OCFaN
1 Mil
Rl PFK "ll'lf 'K
i - ; i -| \
1 r»K
T k \\KYH.R!il4»;
(H 1 \S
K M( . H ITS <_ll rat
M MiH Mi i" 1 ; M M\
N4IN">
+Hh
•
l llll l -
4H(t
•
t.KIHPV Cit'UlH
PHJPPi
Mk
•
» in
IMIMIOUJ S 1 nun
i ii mr.iJM
I I Mi l-,
IHIIIS
UK
■
•
Ml s< K I I l\fT
rmii--,
•
* Ml
III MH K
KlK^JI v *
UK
•
*i mil
r Ml: Ti* < KK 1 ) I'KI K ;T>M JK
UfW kSII \ 4
i*k
*
MJNMHH 1
t,H iriKSII \ A
ink
\
I ; mi i . s i i
*.H KJli^lj VA
VHk
\
1 A»T*nHlJ*.VTMl
infiii v s
ink
X
i ss
M kSll.VA
ink
X
* 1*.
\n rn i*i 'mm
iii N KSII S 4
Hik
X
1 It
HPM',f IS 1 kl Jil.ni
14 Hill ^ V
tif
X
4 '■>
*4.H Ul 4\l
r.il h hsn VA
**k
X
\ MX JM
Qth hSil\ a
pk
\
vn \oh^ i mk
cj"_H:Kll|ii \
HK
*
vm l <;t ; i v Ks 4 4 n i-
t.Jt .N Mil \ \
i«k
X
4p l «.V
HM MT M k
m'ICKSIt ^ *
i h
X
Jhl* II" I* I III i|u*r u,r unluM iiM nil Ihr uitwrn
-M k ii liil I»l 4 hr<|ii. »,i
TTw NiiriPHnt [lifi-Funi iilCl".«lT f cnLrr 111 Hi.
I-V m .Hbl .'"'ii P'^K l
fp'i"ii ll^-w *Mnl irtimn ««i|i|^irr^
i-ih>,. I nun || x
IJ ■■ IJJsi ill N I fuk ^ s i ok Ml PHI
Th every best
Mien Pr,nt 42 i
;ampbell systems
Masterfile Spectrum43K
YES -Microdrive compatible!
Acclaimed as the definitive filing system for trie 4SK Spectrum —
MASTER FILE'S machine coded flexibility gives you 32K <max|
per file - 26 fields per record - up to 128 characters per field -
multiple level searches for numeric or character comparisons —
in machine code for the ZX Spectrum
Drawmaster a rst m
DRAWMASTER is the ultimate DRAW AND PAINT utility for
the Spectrum - compose your own HI RES pictures with 8
direction 2 speed hand draw keys - fast fill - en large/ r educe
facility for all or part of the screen pigs all the Spectrum colours
and attributes - over 50 commands in
'(■>aD>INCL SUHHflHV
Eht L il V * i
C*»P M I 1 ft A
L*ir fat >. i j *
C *« P H L L * , 1 - *
. ■ . n
■J j* 4 -
• ■ 1 ri (
lltril
Ittlll
Dunui L n
Omf J
(■mi j r
tM>ii n
flriB LA
nn.n
C>i« ■ run
|IIH
ia*« =
,«iii!i"
ll.i.hio 1 Wdir. ii-
&* L LJi .
LflM.
1>IPT Uii rmmr.
u I f
\i t
|nl|lh|r run f ■
fur mi
mm ia full »<nj
DLAN
With detailed instructions £6,95
DISPLAY Spectrum
LANGUAGE
16/48K
Data presentation m any one of 36 user defined displays which
may be sequenced by any field - multiple level searches for
numeric or character comparisons - USER BASIC for tailored
processing.
lit
. t & j ■ ■ t ' v ttr t«4
p«
1 1 a* p
■■ T '
lTIIli it 1 ■ di n,
CI
ULtlti , till 4
ae
hC n
Antiftw.lv
-, ,
[Ffl
□ L t | 1 . ■■ L .•
'i-.
H
an
tW-PrWH QtAl
a
tm
rtn
Hl»I K-0 L*i
i i
PJ.3
IJflPP PlUII
•••
>□
S >1 u
' r '' . . j ' .
a
*f ji
tdl l "
MPHI i ft .fl-
Ad> L A
Kllll J.
Main
DtHidt«n L>A,
n
!■■■«' »*n A .
Chi i FtMni
NHH u.n.
Pvtlt
etttb* li JiA'
JtlFM 1 l «U» « »
4* t«k
HA T t 0d*
DLAN ('dee Ian ) DISPLAY LANGUAGE is a powerful machine
coded interpreter for generating DYNAMIC TEXTUAL DISPLAYS
for advertising and education - all commands are single letter or
ww* - jmMi liwrey-h
DLAN BREATHES
LIFE INTO STATIC
DISPLAYS. . .
. the most comprehensive of the data bases
Sinclair User June 1983
With example file and detailed manual
£15.00
51
With 4-way scroll of 1 1 specially designed typefaces through user
defined windows - With detailed manual £7,95
AH programs /mi/ecf 7s r c/ass by return.
Prices include VA T and postage within
Europe SA£ for full fist.
Dept.f SU1 15 Rous Road. Buck hurst Hill
Essex, IG9 6BL England 01 504 0589
106
SINCLAIR USER J*nu*rv t9H4
Known by some as "getting knotted'.
You won't find a game for the 48K
Spectrum quite like this anywhere else!
Imagine yourself in a capsule
hurtling through a void while leaving a
trail behind you. The only manoeuvres
possible are up, down, forward, left and
right. How long can you survive without
crashing into your own trail? As the trails
build up so your reactions will need to
sharpen up. To make the game that little
bit more interesting we've added the
complication of up to four rogue chasers
that attempt to block your path. The
challenge is not onh k> .i\ ok! the k lasers
and score points but to try and work
out a playing strategy - you won t find
this easy!
Naturally you'll be terminated when
you out manoeuvre yourself and get
caught in 'the knot'!
Don't just take our word for it -
'A highly original professional and
exciting game and one that I could play all
night - very highly recommended' - ZX
Computing.
'Knot in 3D must be one of the most
beautiful, graphically, games to be seen on
the Spectrum' - Popular Computing
Weekly-
'Even 3D maze games can get
repetitive but Knot in 3D contrives to be an
interesting and innovative game by standing
the 3D maze concept on its head',
- Personal Computer News,
'Most 3D games have either a graphic
display or an addictive playable game - but
not both, this is one of the few that combine
these qualities'. - Computer & Video
Games. But that's not all . .
Products jvaiUblr fmm
W H Smith. Bools,
vP H J) fH f * * * fel J ) Group, HMV„ and
^iT/J^T^r/^ *U leading department
FRtEPOST Bjth B\2 4TD Tel, 0225-31 W24
Mail tirder b\ rv*him
Compatible with the Kempston foy stick
SINCLAIR i:SER January
SPECTRUM - ZX 81
Make the most of your micro with
these acclaimed books from
the experts!
H Mastering Machine Code on Youi ZX
SPECTRUM
Toru Baker, 3 I 5 pages
□ Beyond Simple BASIC — Delving Deeper into
Your ZX SPECTRUM
Ddwyn Jones, 206 pages
C Programming Your ZX SPECTRUM
Tim nartnel], Dilwyn tones, 230
C 60 Games and Applications for the
ZX SPECTRUM
David Hat-wood, 90 pages
G Creating Arcade Games on the ZX SPECTRUM
Daniel Haywood, 1 56 pages
" InsUnt SPECTRUM Programming
Tim HartneU, 1 26 pages , C50 cassette
~ i 20 Simp te Electron lc Projects for the
SPECTRUM. ZX81 and Other Computers
Stephen Adams, ] 04 pages
G Putting youi SPECTRUM I o Work
Chris Callender. 88 pages
□ SPECTRUM Machine Code made Easy
Vol. One {for beginners)
James Walsh. 222 pages
C SPECTRUM Machine Code made Easy
Vol. Two {advanced programmers)
Paul Holmes, 152 pages
□ Mastering Machine Code on your ZX81
Tom Baker, 1 B6 paqes
□ Getting Acquainted with your ZXB 1
TtmHartnell, 123 pages
C The Turing Criterion — Machine Intelligent
Programs tor the 1 6K ZXB 1
Harrison, Charlton, & Jones, 154 pages
O 34 Amazing Games for the 1 K ZX8 1
AsdPitair Gc-urlay, 54 pages
□ 49 Explosive Games lor the ZX81
Tim Hartnetl. ] 38 pages
£9.95
£7.95
£6.9S
£4.95
£3.95
£4.95
£6 45
£495
£5.95
£595
£7 50
£ 5 . 95
£5 25
£495
£5.95
^Interface Publications, Dept SU, 44-46 Earls Court Road,
I London W8 6EJ
I
Please send me the books indicated. 1 enclose £ .
Name:
| Addres
I
I
II nit tntwtWCP booksdre 'jVdcxibk* :rjm rarnpuU'r .irid book irv-iidintf W M Srrii'l I
Miliars. BixAi and Ehmrp Tr»cHr> ^upplwd bf Tr» Compjler Bookshop. j0 tjfKXjtli R-o*i
imatoftm ' . ;■: ■ ■ : ■■
INTERFACE
PUBLICATIONS
[P®®[Lg\^D[^K][l[^
THE ULTIMATE POOLS PREDICTION PROGRAM
Not rust SCOREDRAWS, but MOSCORES.
fA
PREDICTS
A WAYS and HOMES
IT WORKS We guarantee the program performs significantly
better than chance.
ADAPTABLE ,j PoqJs\m inner" allows, the precise prediction
formula to bo set by the user - you car* develop
and test vour own unique method. Probabilities
are given on ev*ry fixture - choose as many at
as few selections as you wish
EASY TO USE Fully menu driven, with detailed instruction
Booklet.
DATABASE The program comes complete with ihe largest
database available - over 20,000 matches. The
database automatically updates as results are ted
In.
SPECTRUM <48K> ZX 81 ri6K r f 15 00 tell Jnclurival
We prodoce databases lor those developing their own prediction
program. 2 years results £7.50 5 years results C12.50.
Also COURSEWIMNER Computer aided horse betting C9 50
Available from dealers, or drreet Return of posti from
Selec Software
37 Councillor Lane,
Cheadle. Cheshire
061 428 7425
DtALEFI EN0UJRIE5 WELCOME
SOUNDS AND MUSIC
FOR
ZX81 AND SPECTRUM
THE PETRON TRICHORD
• COMPREHENSIVE MUSIC PROGRAM
• 6.134 X 3 NOTE CHORDS (48K SPECTRUM)
• ORDINARY MUSIC NOTATION USE0 {A to G)
» RANGE OF MORE THAN 8 OCTAVES
• KEY SIGNATURE APPLIED THROUGHOUT
• FUL L FDIT FACILITIES PROVIDED
• PRINT OUT MUSIC ON A ZX PRINTER
• NO PROGRAMMING SKILLS REQUIRED
• PRE-PROGRAMMED PROM HAS WIDE RANGE OF
SOUND EFFECTS ACCESSED WITH ONLY 2 BASIC
INSTRUCTIONS
• DEVELOP AND USE YOUR OWN SOU NO EFFECTS
Faaturad in April/May 1983
ETI magazina
ZX81 £24 96
SPECTRUM £2*. 96
With internal amplifier,
speaker & vol control
ZXB 1 £26. 95
SPECTRUM E28 95
Spectrum BEEP' amplifier
facility £1.00 extra
Mmnvlir Softwtr* Ctsswttm mctutfmd
Compattbta with mctt Sinclair mdef-ont,
Audio Of/no Cessetr* £1 25
AW prices tnc facta p&p and VAT
S
ML
PETRON ELECTRONICS
COURTLANDS RD, NEWTON ABBOT DEVON
T«»: {0626) 62630
sui
SINCLAIR VSVR January 1984
Like .4 gu m step e loser to reality with
New tieneration Software. The 5D
( Graphics of New Generation programs
bring tile screen alive and makes other
games look as flat as snakes and ladders
Spectrum owners will find that seeing
is believing when thev open the di>or on
TH£ Corridors of G©*»tf, the latest
l real ion from New trcneration. You will
be saving the I uivcrsc from the evil that
now controls all things. But beware - the
sound ol lootstcps approaching could be
Bogul!
Corridors < rf Gcnon for 4HK Spectrum £ S
it is a superb program, and a weti
ittrtieiivd pint HritlitiTit' Vatuefttr
money WO% ' Home Computing Weekly
Knot *i 3D for 48K Spectrum f&99
Addictive, playable game' C& V Games
Tunnel for 48JC Spectrum £5 9S
A masterpiece of firrtyra mming' C&V G
Hurtle into a void leaving a trail for
n our unse en pursuers in k\< m in ->l )
Weave your way through up to five traiLs
but be careful, you could get knotted! Or
travel through the depths of a moving
tunnel lull of bats, rats, spiders and toads in
'3D TlWEl-', with a special surprise in the
48 K version,
Stamina is the vital ingredient of
"ESCAPE*, as you'll be venturing into the
mazc pursued by walking and flying
dinosaurs.
ZN8 1 ow tuts must be prepared for die
F_se-jpc tor I6K Spectrum £-i»s
( ineof the he$t and mtist urt^irtut iiu>tws
it v /tat e seen fur the Spectrum ' Sinclair f -ser
30 Monster Maze for 16K ZX81 a •
Hriltiartt. ttrittutttt. ftrillkmt
tSypuUtr (.(imputing Weekly
51 ) Defender for 16KZX81 X i 9S
Another Ui Winner' Sim lair t ser
shock of coming face to face with the
T Rex that leaps out from '3D Monster
MaZE\ l 3D Dkhenoer' takes you out of this
world and plunges you into space in a fast
moving game to defend your home planet
against alien spacecraft in a hi it/ of
explosions, plasma blasts and photon
beams.
All these exciting \U games have been
designed by Malcolm Evans, the 3D
expert. They'll have you leaping out of
your scat because you don't just play New
C veneration games, you live them.
Producls available from
VVM Smith, Boots,
Menzies, Spectrum
Croup, HMV, and
all leading di-parttni-rit
& computet stores
HU-IKKCTBuhHAi »TU TelO.22S-.UA92*
Mail unliT hv ri-rurn
SINCLAIR USER January 19S4
109
First steps towards
paperless learning
Theodora Wood considers the current state
and the potential of educational software
COMPUTERS have now found
their way into approximately
one in 10 British households.
Half a million Spectrurns alone have
been sold and presumably at least twice
as many adults and children have un-
wrapped their cartons and plugged-in
their hardware. Some will have caught
the programming bug, others are small
business users, and a large proportion
have been shooting-down the alien
hordes.
Software houses were quick to supply
the games market and some have pro-
vided educational software but it is only
recently that the numbers of edu-
cational titles have risen, with the large
educational publishing houses realising
the potential of the market, complete
with glossy packaging and nation-wide
distribution. At present Britain lags be-
hind the U.S. market, both in the range
and number of educational programs
available, and is following roughly the
same pattern of development.
The biggest number of programs
available, for both the Spectrum and
ZX-81, are of the rule-drill variety.
They operate in the same way as the
most traditional methods of teaching,
by showing examples of the subject to
be taught and then testing, sometimes
by games. They can be divided into
those for the younger age group — three
to nine — and those which are aimed at
older children as learning packages.
For the younger children the lack of
reading skill places a greater emphasis
on the use of graphics,, animation and
sound in the programs used to teach
basic skills such as letter recognition,
counting, simple mathematics. It is im-
portant with programs such as those
that there should be a substantial ele-
ment of interaction with the computer
— children love pressing buttons. The
testing part of the programs provides
for that in most cases and duplicates the
worksheets and workbooks used in
schools throughout the country in elec-
tronic form.
First Numbers — Collins Edu-
cational, 16K Spectrum, £5.95 — is a
series of five programs on one tape
illustrating the concept of the electronic
workbook. Instead of the examples rea-
rnaining inert on the page* they bound
round the screen in full colour; hopping
frogs, seals bouncing balls on their
noses, and elephants moving across the
screen, rather too slowly, to the tune
Nellie the Elephant, all emphasise the
numbers one to 10. A program illus-
trates how to write the numbers by first
drawing them on the screen and then
flashing arrows following the direction
of the pencil, identical to a workbook,
except that there the arrows do not
flash.
In contrast, there is Alphabet —
Widget, 48K Spectrum, £5.95 — a pro-
gram to teach letter recognition which
uses no on-screen movement to illus-
trate its point. Its use of the Spectrum
sound capability is lamentable, as the
reward for a correct answer is the same
for every letter, and can become ex-
tremely tedious even for the youngest
child. When attempting to teach letter
recognition, which is essentially a
sound/shape matching activity, it is im-
portant that an adult should be present,
as without a voice element the objective
cannot be realised.
For the younger child who has little
or no reading ability, better capability
of the Spectrum in the area of colour,
graphics and sound make it a superior
machine to the ZX-81. Moving up the
age range, a considerable number of
programs operate on the electronic
workbook level, from junior up to O
level and beyond, and they are widely-
available either at department stores or
by mail order.
The ZX-81 appears more regularly in
those titles, where more on-screen text
can be used and flashing graphics are
not so important. That kind of program
would be a valuable aid to learning for
the motivated child and for examination
revision. Rose Cassettes and University
Software specialise in that kind of pro-
grams.
Quiz programs are an extension of
the question-and-answer format, such as
the ones produced by Psion — 16/48K
Spectrum, £6.95 — for geography and
O GlirPLD STUCTES O
THE SINCLAIR
EDUCAHONAL
c
history. Time Traveller — John Wi-
ley, 48K Spectrum only, £9.95 — ex-
tends the scope by using the format of
an adventure game, complete with wild
animals, soldiers and priests, at the
same time testing a child's knowledge of
history through having to answer ques-
tions on historical fact correctly before
passing through the time warps from
2000 BC to the present. This type of
quiz would obviously have more attrac-
tions than the more straightforward ver-
sions, and would be more entertaining
for groups.
All the programs mentioned so far are
an extension of traditional teaching
methods and provide a paperless way of
learning subjects as diverse as O level
French revision and the history of in-
ventions. For the younger age groups
they could be a valuable aid to learning
basic skills, if used for short periods,
and should be compared to other hard-
wire aids such as Speak and Spell, the
Talking Computer and Little Pro-
fessor to assess their effectiveness.
They also provide an introduction to
110
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
Education
SEnSE|80WAYS
fiBDUTr 0M
cnmpuTERS
the use of the computer and its key-
board. In the short term a child's inter-
est would be retained probably by the
novelty value of using a computer hut
that may later prove ephemeral as elec-
tronic workbooks become a more famil-
iar feature at home and at school. Older
children could use them in conjunction
with their studies to clarify and identify
areas on which they need to concen-
trate.
Simulation programs present a real
departure from the electronic workbook
and use the ability of the computer to
deal with interactive variables to the
full. Simulation programs at their best
place a child in a real situation, engag-
ing attention in an imaginative way.
Again, the superior Spectrum graphics
and colour invalidate the use of the ZX-
81 and most titles are available for 48K
Spectrum only.
Heinemann has produced a package
for the eight-to-12 age group, Balloon-
ing, which is accompanied by a glossy
booklet explaining ballooning., with its
history, development and suggestions
for further activities. The balloon
moves over a simulated landscape at the
top of the screen while a child interact-
ing with information on the dials placed
below — altitude, temperature, fuel,
rate of climb or fall — controls the
upward or downward drift of the craft.
The child can stop the action to make
a decision more coolly or mark position
on a graph relating to altitude and
distance, thus simulating a barograph.
By practising at the controls of the
balloon, a novice balloonist can execute
various missions set by the program,
some of which are extremely compli-
cated, and in so doing become aware of
the interaction between the temperature
of the air inside the balloon, its rise and
fall and its limitations as a flying ma-
chine.
The variety of other activities sugges-
ted in the accompanying booklet en-
sures that the program is open-ended
and the concepts introduced in the
package explored in different ways.
Meanwhile, arguments rage as ro who
has achieved the most number of safe
landings. Flight Simulation — 48 K
Spectrum, Psion, £7.95 — and to a
lesser extent Ntghtflite — 16K Spec-
trum, Hewson — together with a lfiK
ZX-81 version, are similar programs
suitable for nine-year-olds upwards and
continue the theme of flying a machine
but with greater difficulty level. Real-
time means precisely that and there is
no stopping the action to assimilate the
information on the dials.
Map reading and basic navigational
skills are also needed to move the air-
craft round the landscape in the case of
the 48K version, and the impression of
reality is enhanced by being in the
cockpit, seeing the landmarks below,
and experiencing the tilt of the aero-
plane in relation to the horizon, as well
as the dizzying effect of rushing towards
the ground at an increasingly frighten-
ing rate.
Simulation programs prove an
imaginative vehicle for the introduction
of the terminology used and the con-
cepts involved in a particular activity
and accomplish it in a different way
from the rule and drill programs; in-
stead of learning by example a child
learns by the consequences of actions,
albeit within the limitations of a simu-
lated micro-world.
Learning by direct experience is
more valuable than learning by rote and
one would expect that more programs
of this kind would be available in 1984,
to introduce chidren to a wide variety of
concepts and situations.
There are also programs for both the
Spectrum and ZX-81 which operate in
specialist areas not covered by the rule-
and-drill format. Programs such as
Firework Music and Tuner — 16/
48K Spectrum range for 16K ZX-81,
Software Cottage, £5 each — introduce
children of almost any age to the basics
of musical notation, pitch and keyboard
use, and are ideal for use where a
household has a computer bur no must
cal instruments as, sad to say, only a
minority of children retain an Interest
in playing music beyond a certain age.
Bridge Software produces a program,
Night Sky — 16K Spectrum, £8.90 —
which shows the stars visible at any
time of the day or night from the
Midlands — 0°, 52°N — on any day of
the year. The second program in the
pack shows the stars appearing in order
of magnitude, with the 20 brightest
stars named. Although operating within
a specialist field, this type of program is
of note as it adds an extra dimension to
the star maps in books; moving the time
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
lU
cvminued frpm page HI
on hour by hour shows the viewer how
the stars rise and fall throughout the
night and their positions throughout the
year.
It also gives city dwellers a chance to
look at the stars which are rarely seen
through the orange glare of street lights
and seen even more rarely ai 3 o'clock
in the morning.
The state of the art of educational
software for the Spectrum and the ZX-
81 introduces children to the keyboard
of the computer — just watch a three-
year-old press ENTER — and the no-
tion of paperless work while reinforcing
the learning processes involved in gain-
ing skills which are basic to any edu-
cational curriculum. They can also
introduce new concepts in an exciting
way through the use of simulation tech-
niques. None of them, however, deals
with the use of the computer in the
programming field.
The Microelectronics Education Pro-
gramme was designed initially for use in
schools and contains some programs
which teach skills which are the step-
ping stones to logic and programming
techniques, as well as the more usual
rule-and-drill programs. At £24.95 per
pack of seven to eight programs, it
seems rather expensive for home
use but its use in schools is a selling
point for distributors such as W H
Smith.
Fanner introduces problem-solving
and reasoning to the seven-toll group,
while Watchperson does a similar task
for the eight-to- 1 1 group and includes
route planning. Mazes are a graphic
way to introduce logical processes and
many of them are available in the games
section of the software departments of
stores.
To learn programming as a tech-
nique, the most innovative and child-
centred way is to use Logo, a high-level
language developed at Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, under the
guidance of Seymour Papert. Instead of
using the computer to help a child or
young adult to learn certain skills, the
user programs the computer to execute
commands. Logo enables children from
about nine upwards to achieve results
which would be much more difficult to
achieve using the Basic language com-
mon to the Spectrum and ZX-8L
By the use of simple commands, a
child can instruct a robotyturtle to move
round the screen or on the floor, draw-
ing as it proceeds. Imagine telling some-
one to walk round a square shape; walk
10 steps, then turn right; at that point it
would be absolutely essential to know
how many degrees to turn through,
otherwise the shape would have no
chance of being a square. Similarly with
Logo and it is in that way that the value
of such a program can be seen, as
geometric functions are learned not by
looking at a text book but by practical
use of them in an activity which has
been chosen by the child.
Logo does much more than introduce
children to geometric function, how-
ever, because by choosing a problem,
like drawing a house, the child has to
split the activity into its component
parts — roof, windows, chimneys — and
find the best way of achieving the de-
sired result. That type of problem-solv-
ing can be applied to any number and
variety of activities and the adult ver-
sion is well-known as critical path analy-
sis, involving the exploration of
logistics to determine the order in
which activities are executed.
Logo also introduces children to the
basic concepts of programming in a
simplified form — to loops, nested loops
et al — and for those who have no
immediate knowledge of, or affinity
with, those concepts, its simplicity is an
easy introduction to them. In future
years robots and artificial intelligence
will enter many areas of life and a
knowledge of the logical w r ay in which a
programmable machine works will un-
doubtedly be a skill which many will
need to learn.
SnaU Log© — Spectrum 48K, CP
Software, j£9.95 — is an example of this
type of program which can be used
either with the Zeaker turtle on the
floor or displays, if desired, a snail
moving on the screen.
The documentation with the pro-
gram is excellent, describing the con-
cepts behind it and giving examples of
programs to try. They lead the novice
from simple routines to more complex
ones involving the use of named proce-
dures — subroutines — and variables.
Although there are ample facilities to
copy the program being worked on,
there is no means of saving them, which
is very irritating, as obviously children
might wish to evolve a program in the
space of days or weeks. It would be
better also if the snail could be seen on
the screen at the same time. No doubt
other versions of Logo will be intro-
duced in the coming year.
Looking back on the development of
educational software at the start of
1984, the main impression is That the
field has scarcely been explored. Two
obvious areas where development is
necessary for the Spectrum and the ZX-
81 is a simple word processor allowing
children to type-in a piece of writing
and then correct it, and the interactive
database program similar to that of the
Tree of Life which runs on the BBC
micro.
Potential exists in the simulation/
adventure format and the use of Logo to
stimulate children into areas of activity
which would be impossible without the
use of the computer. While rule-and-
drill programs can be a pleasant way of
learning basic skills and an introduction
to the computer and its keyboard, their
over-use could have the opposite effect
to that desired by deterring children
using computers for life.
So what developments can we expect
in the next few years? Interactive video
must surely be an area to be explored.
Based on a combination of personal
computers and video tapes or disc play-
ers, interactive video will expand the
use of the computer as an educational
tool by introducing real speech into the
learning process and enabling children
to interact with the pictures.
After that, perhaps children will
learn to program holograms to dance
round the room or a myriad of small
independent robots will be whizzing
round when fed their programs. Edu-
cational software? We have only just
begun.
Bridge Software, 36 Fernwood, Marple
Bridge, Stockport, Cheshire SK6 5BE
CP Software, 17 Orchard Lane, Prestwood.
Great Missenden. Bucks HP16 ONIM.
Rose Software, 148 Widnev Lane. Solihull
West Midlands B91 3LH.
Software Cottage, 19 Westfield Drive,
Loughborough, Leicestershire LE1 1 3QJ
University Software, 29 St Peter's Street,
London N1 .
John Wiley & Sons [Sukus Software), Baf-
fins Lane, Chichester, Sussex P019 1UD.
Collins, Widget, Heinamann and Psion are
widely available at leading department
stores.
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
'While rule-and-drill programs can be a
pleasant way of learning basic skills and an
introduction to the computer and its
keyboard, their over-use could have the
opposite effect to that desired'
J.' L'
Cwela^ d °^ e ^io ^S^lSl^ At
1 ^ctouti aoftvr^ froS Britain*
top e*^toJtf I™° to nelp yfi^ children
^Vl I>C ~ — — — — ,
Ali-cady available for the ZX
Spectrum L6k/46k
tiler
LONGMAN SOFTWARE
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
113
WHEN YOU BUY FORTH MAKE IT THE BEST!
^fc^fc "Forth is closer to machine code and more than 10 times taster than BASIC. A game of Space Invaders written using
^^^^ it would be almost as if it is written in machine code.' 1 Sinclair usur. • "Abersoft Forth has no known bugs, gives you
more Forth words, and because it allows 12 screens in memory at once it is easier to load and save programs/'
Personal computet n**$. 0 "Abersoft Forth is a complete version of the language with added colour, attribute and graphics
instructions- It is also possible to rjefine your own characters just as you can in Spectrum BASIC." s u • "Forth is an easy
language to use, and the graphics commands in Abersoft Forth allow you to do anything in Forth
that you can do in BASIC, Vc.n • "Abersoft Forth is the only Spectrum package which has been
endorsed by the Forth Interest Group." su & "Its features make it well worth the price. 1 >.cn #
' .TEACH.;
• YOUR/ •
SPECTRUM
A NEW
LANGUAGE
FANTASTIC
MB L B O U R N E
HOUSE
Melbourne House Publishers
SPECTRUM Books
G IMrttandrtf Yaw Spectrum
Q Sptdnun H»cnine U*i£u*te (w (he Absolut* Beg nner
□ Qw Tto ScKtrun
Compute Spectrum a. M*m ^
Spect^rn Hirtrt*! MbimjiI
Q j«dMl MeJbirtet tuft, , 4 ,
CH Swetcturie Vnir Scectrum
!□ Pfc*se send me mw tree 4B edge caJawfue
IF* LP* PfttCE Eg 35
If* IW PtICE E5 19
if* in rtrtl
„ EH5
ES9i
£5«
£J»
4AK Spectrum Cassettes
□ ftmtntor
□ TlitHQMjrl £WS5
□ Terrer-BifctiHD t& $5
Z feftourwfrnr EftSS
□ H-lUtC IH95
□ Computet find |e Eft 95
□ J«>»t»lt Fflrtfc £1195
All price include VAT
#h*ne applicable
H f a w add 80o
lor postarrf pack.
I enclose my cheque; money order for C
Please debit my Access Card No.
bpiry Date
Signature
Name
Address
Postcode
£ +*/p 80
Drtert to:
Hutounu Mfuu
' J ' Trjlilgj' Rajfl
Ernnmich. Umdwi SF'D
Corrt (pondnwt t&
Melbourne House
Clturcti fird
Inng Hertfordshire MP23 51U
Trade enquiry ■ gu1E
Total
E
f M Metbwme House i
software is unoondrtionalh/
guaranteed against
nvaff u-nclNhn
Access cyders tan be
telephOHdl liuou gti on
our 24 hr ansatone
fOll 9S« 7357 Cj
CONGRATULATIONS!
MARK LUCAS
Winner of the 1 983
Cambridge Award
a highly original
WAR GAME
BATTLE 1917
The game is played by two players on
a board 21 x32 showing a map
which changes with every game.
Each player has 29 pieces including
infantry, cavalry, tanks, artillery and a
King. The object of the game, like
chess, is to kill the enemy King. The
game will appeal equally to all ages
and all skills, This is the computer
age's answer to Chess. Available
from all good computer shops at £6.
Cases Computer Simulations Ltd. 14 Langton Way, London SE3 7TL.
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
115
The all-time best-selling arcade tame
for the 48K Spectrum
* Amazingly fast arcade action! Includes: * Trailing Mode and
* Unique Customising Feature The fastest and most exciting
game for your 43K Spectrum
Melbourne House is fast gaining a reputation for classy
products, and this is no exception. Penetrate r is unique in its
customisation features and will astound those who like to
sneer at arcade- style games played on home computers."
PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD
Penetrator is written entirely in machine language and takes
up almost all of the 48K memory. If you have a 48K Spectrum,
then you must have Penetrator!
Ill TftHifc* hat frank*. L^b Sf1|
CHimHiKi tat HhUminu NftfM.
Church tinL Twi|. Utfett*iitl#73 iLU
Ul Mtftoumt Hwit tiisettt software is
u r uj)ndiiKHi»lhj iur*nr«o ifiiiHl mirtundion
1 rptJf ipwjyintl HtfOfH.
□ Phase sand it* »ur»rM4an K ew<*Qiue
Pteas* Bind ms.
4M S^CTtpi CnwRii
□ ThtHotM
□ Pmmtw
□ TaiDT-EMlif 10
L : Melbourne Dim .
I HU.Nt
□ Camptitei frdgi
□ AtafsrtlFort*
Please add SDp foi poJ Md pack
TOTAL
□ mmtt nrttf Hat
Pteaie HM my Accra, ciri No
EiptfjDslB
Sijnotun
MM
c*»
ttSi
U95 AMrm ,
EU 95
. EH.95
tins
J* kWHU<Htlli:iUI J1S.'
For any ZX Spectrum, and
now for the 16K ZX8VM
A superb aid to programming the ZX81 /SPECTRUM,
allowing you to watch what your BASIC programs are doing
every step of the way. Bugs in your programs will be easier
to find, Example programs will almost explain themselves.
Before the ZX81 / SPECTRUM executes each BASIC state
ment in your program it will display the line number,
statement number (SPECTRUM), and the statement itself
in the input area lit will not overwrite the main display area!.
The speed is controllable from single step upwards. You can
produce a TRACE listing on the ZX printer, stop your
program at any point to print variables Or correct errors, and
start stop tracing from anywhere in your program.
"an effective TRACE . . , a useful debugging toot . . .easy
to use" SU. 9/83 reviewing SPECTRUM version.
It mighi even help you find the errors in the magazine listings!
ZX81 H6KI Version ...... £5.95 Including
Spectrum Version . . , , £6.95 P £t P from:
TEXGATE COMPUTERS LTD,
Dept. SP, 14 Brook Lane, Corf a Mullen, Dorset BH21 3RD
(for Sinclair Spectrum 16k)
An observer's guide to the stars
visible from the UK (48 to 58 North]
Discover the fascination of the limitless heavens.
Create brilliant hi-res starcharts with
THE NIGHT SKY and your Spectrum
• Features over 700 different stars
• 5 magnitudes distinguished
• 50 constellations identifiable
• Over 4 million different skyscapes
• Sky colour indicates day, night or twilight
• Ideal for senous astronomers and novices alike
• Make your TV screen a mini planetarium
Trace the movements of the constellations
minute by minute, night by night
Send £8.90 for cassette and Manual
Send s.a.e, for full list of our scientific
educational, graphics and games software for
Spectrum, 2X81 . BBC and VIC-20
Full money back guarantee,
Trade enquiries welcome
Dept SU | 36 Fern wood. Marple Bridge,
Stockport, Cheshire, SK6 5BE, England,
T . t,EXT GENERATION.-
The NtAi w -oftware
of Speetromjo'lrL--
^33
2>L£ r-J"
ESS*
*TCl
m
js^-^r^ jug 5*8
DIGITAL /%
integration*
Dept. SU. 22 Ash Church Road. Ash, Alder shot. Hants GUI 4 9LP AH p«ce»|
include VA" and p&p lavBrseas add 55p per c»ssettel All cassettes carry a
lifetime guarantee. Trade & export enquires welcome - ring Dave Marshull
02&2 51 6269- M«l order or check vour local compute* slare.
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
117
The machine code way to
more interesting sounds
Robert Shipley explains how to generate sound effects on the
Spectrum using six simple routines
FOR SOUND generation using
Spectrum machine code* the first
thing you must learn is how lo
assign values to variables. In machine
code there are only eight main variables.
They are not called variables but regis-
ters. They are A, B, C, D, E, F, H and
L and they can have a value between 0
and 255. If you pair two registers they
can have a value between 0 and 65,535.
B can be paired with D, D with E and
H with L, The A register is paired w r ith
F, the flag register, which holds that
state of the flags, is paired for only a few
instructions.
The instruction "LET" in Basic is
equivalent to "LD" — read as
"LOAD" — in machine code. The
basic instruction "LET A - 100" would
be' 4 LD AJ00" - load A with IUU - in
machine code. "LET 80 = 60,000'' is
"LD BC,60 ? 000" in machine code. You
cannot type those instructions directly
into your Spectrum, so if you look in
Appendix A of the Sinclair manual you
will find under the column marked Z-80
Assembler LD D,N (code 22),
Tne code can be poked into memory
and called from Basic. The N stands for
any eight-bit number between 0 and
255 because D is only an eight -bit
register. LD DE, NN (code 17) loads
DE with the 16-bit number which fol-
lows. With an instruction like LD
BJOQ the translation into decimal num-
bers is easy, 6 for LD B,N and 100
makes 6 100. For 16-bit registers like
HL or BC it is not so easy because you
can poke numbers into memory only
which are between 0 and 255. The
decimal code of LD BC,500 is 1 244 1
(1 for LD BC,NN then 244 ])
(244+1x256 = 500).
RKT is a very important instruction
and must be put at the end of a machine
code program so that it returns to Spec-
trum Basic. If you do not put that
instruction the program will never re-
turn to Basic. DEC and INC are similar
instructions, DEC decreases the value
in the register which follows the and
INC increases it, e.g., INC A increases
A by 1,
The flag register is very useful; it
holds information about the last calcula-
tion the processor performed. The most
useful information it can tell us is if the
result of the last calculation was zero.
Using the zero flag an equivalent ma-
chine code program or a FOR-NEXT
loop can be written as in figure one to
produce a delay.
The JR NZ instruction jumps to
DEC B if the zero flag is not set
(NZ = NOT ZERO), Other similar
instructions are:
JR Z 3 d jump if the zero flag is set,
JR d jump whatever any of the flags are
set to.
The d stands for displacement. If you
want to jump forward, replace the d
£ The last register
pushed on to the
stack will be the first
one to be popped off
with a positive number between 0 and
127. For backward jumps replace d
with the number of bytes you want to
jump subtracted from 256. That pro-
gram can be simplified further by the
DJNZ instruction which does the DEC
B and the JR NZ,d in one, DJNZ works
only for register B — see figure two.
If you run figure one or two you will
not have much of a delay because ma-
chine code is so fast. You can see the
limit of the JR,d group of instructions
because it can jump a maximum of 128
bytes — in a small routine that would be
sufficient — so to jump long distances
there is JP NN, which jumps to the
address specified by the 16-bit number
that follows.
One way to circumvent the fact that
you only have eight registers is to use
the stack and the Pu.sh and Pop instruc-
tions; 16-bit registers are pushed on to
the stack and popped ofT, The last
register pushed on to the stack will be
the first one to be popped ofT. If, for
example, you wanted to interchange the
values in DE and HL you could:
PUSH DE (Put value in DE on to the
stack).
PUSH HL (Put value in HL on to the
stack),
POP DE (Tape the value that was in
HL and put it into DE).
POP HL (Take the value that was in
DE and put it into HL),
The easiest way to print on to the
screen is to use the instruction RST ] 6
which prints on the screen the character
equivalent of the code in the A register.
Unfortunately it changes the values in
some of the registers so they have to b$
put on to the stack before the RST 16
instruction and taken off again after-
wards if you want The registers to slay as
they were before the printing. A pro-
gram to print the alphabet is shown in
figure three.
The only unexplained instruction is
CP 90. That compares A to 90 and sets
the zero flag if A equals 90, in which
case we will have reached Z and do not
want to print any more. CP always
compares against A and can be com*
pared to any other eight-bit register or
eight-bit number. Try keying this pro-
gram into your Spectrum using the
Basic program as explained in chapter
26 of the Spectrum manual.
SINCLAIR t:SHR January tHM
The decimal codes are entered into
DATA statements, i.e., DATA 62, 64,
60, 245. Note that to run this machine
code program you need to enter
PRINT: RANDOMIZE USR 32500 —
or wherever you have put the code.
Most other programs do not need
PRINT: unless they use RST 16.
The Spectrum sound in Basic is very
limited to beeps and clicks. Fn machine
code, however, much more interesting
effects can be created, such as slowly
rising and falling tones. The programs
which follow can be keyed- in as ex-
plained in chapter 26 of the Spectrum
manual and executed by entering RAN-
DOMIZE USR 32500, or the address
of where the code is stored. Figure four
is called Warble.
To create sound in machine code vou
set HL to a high value for a low-pitched
sound and vice versa. DH is set to the
duration and then the ROM routine at
address 949 is called ro sound the note.
In the Warble program the pitch is set
to 500 and the length of each note to 60
and the note is sounded; then HL is set
to 750 and the note sounded again. The
process is repeated until B equals zero.
CALL 949 executes a routine in the
Spectrum ROM and as with RST 16
changes the values in some registers;
that is w T hy BC has to be put on to the
stack.
Try changing B — the number of
times the routine is repeated; HL, the
pitch of each note; and DE, the length
of each note.
The next machine code program, fig-
ure five, is called Siren. It gives a
smoothly- rising tone by decreasing f II.
Note that the registers are pushed on to
the stack before calling the ROM rou-
tine and popped off in reverse order so
rhat they retain their initial values. If
you change DEC HL (Code 43) to INC
HL {Code 35) you will get a smoothly-
falling tone. Change DE to have the
sound to last longer or shorter
Figure six is a variation on Siren. It
makes a sound similar to the Oric zap. It
makes a high-pitched beep and that
decreases until it has made 200 sounds.
It can be used to sound like a laser gun
but it sounds slightly like a bird chirp-
ing. Experiment with it for a sound
which suits you best.
The best way to write a machine code
program is first to make a flowchart,
then write the program in assembler
and, finally, translate the whole thing
into decimal ready for poking into mem-
ory. Note that not all instructions are
possible, such as LD BC, DE, so check
that all your instructions are valid.
Decimal cade
Z-80 Assembler
Comments
6 200
l.D K.200
I.i^tJ R with the number of times ihc luap
NEXT:
DEC B
Uecrta^e the ft rcgisrcr
32 253
JR NZ,NEXT
lumn Trt llFi"" Ft 1hn1r*^c. Ft Mrinjlw 0
J Li J VI Li IV J_-i r l_iX_r U LlllJCaS J-l CUUfllff K'
201
RET
Return to Basic
Figure 1 .
Decimal code
Z-80 Assembler
Comments
LD B,200
djt> ULilCI [ILIlIlUCE \t £,jj
1 ■ ' .. 1
NEXT: DJNZ NEXT
r e j st r> jcnj junip hulk rn repeal rnt
■ r^4.l m. 1 inn ihu u ■ n I inl.^L i W ^ni lalft J*)
mjii ruLiLuri u^jiij urius-, Ji it]i2aii y
RET
tvciurn lu r>jibk
Figure 2*
Decimal code
Z-80 Assembler
Comments
62 64
1 f\ A J. 1
1..1J A,t>4
M = Oxle Tor one less lhan the letter A
60
NEXT;
INC \
Incrca&c A
245
PUSH AF
Save AF on the stack
235
RST 16
I nut t.liKS nl vjJue in A
^4 I
POP AF
CP 90
(..onipare A with 9CXZ)
JR NZ,NEXT
jump iu IjNv.. ri ii me leu.) jug i^ mn ivci
RET
Figure 3.
Decimal code
Z-80 Assembler
Comment*
d 50
LD B,50
Number of rt-ptnts
hi:
NEXT:
PUSH BC
Save BC on the stack
33 244 1
LD H L300
Load HL with first pjfabeti
17 60 0
LD DE,60
LoaJ DE with duration u] each rscile
205 181 3
CALL 949
Call ROM routine ai 949
33 238 2
LD HL,750
Ijjad HL with second pitch
17 60 0
LD DE,60
Load DE with duraEtun again
205 1 R 1 1
CALL 949
('■ill H ( 1 W i m i r i rn»
1 mj
POP BC
IxCLNCVe D V_, IIUIIE 1IIL B(a(.K
DJNZ NEXT
Tumn rri 1'1 "'sf-l Ht if ft J.u-s. mil .Mini (\
jULiip lu rL/jn x>v. u d uiiev lull tquji \f
RET
ft.triu.iti cu ndiii
Figure 4.
Decimal code
Z-80 Assembler
Comments
33 2441
LD HI .,500
Load HL wnh thf starung pitch
IT 10 0
LD DE.I0
Load l>L "In: Jiualuui is! cjl h nutc
6 255
LD B h 255
Load B with the number of repeats
229
NEXT: Tl'SH HI.
Save HL on the stack
21 \
PUSH DE
Save DE on the stack
197
PUSH BC
Save BC on the stack
205 181 3
CALL 949
Call ROM routine ai 949
193
POP lii :
Tnke BC back off the stack
209
POP DE
Take DE back oil the stack
225
POP HL
Take HL tuck oil ihc staL-k
A\
t j
DEC HL
1 ) ' "t r n i 4 ' • f Til
I 'LLI C 11 lt_J LC ill.
Ifi. '-i t
DJN/. NEXT
C-l Mvl 1 L MM ilHU jUJEIlt IU 1 11 IJkC
A 1 U L '"£v lllll HI
£v i
RET
U.»rnrrii Fji H ■ l >
R.L'[urn ut tiAsii.
Figure 5.
Decimal code
Z-80 Assembler
Comments
33 10 0
LD HL T 10
Load HL with starring pitch
17 3 0
LD DE,3
Load DE with duration
6 200
LD B,200
Load R with the number ol" repeats
229
NEXT;
PI SH Ml.
Put HL onto the stack
213
PUSH DE
Put DE onto the stack
197
PUSH BC
Pnl BC onto the stack
205 181 3
CALL 949
Call ROM routine ai 949
193
POP BC
Take BC off the slack
209
POP DE
Take DE off the Mack
POP HI
Take HL oil the stack
35
INC HL
Increase HL by one
16 244
DJNZ NEXT
Jump to NEXT If B does not equal 0
201
RET
Return to Basic
Figure 6.
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
119
Professional Software
for Spectrum and ZX81
SP ECTRUM 4QX
■ Payroll: Weekly, monthly, hourly All lax codas, ajid pay levels
Guaranteed correct £25 00 ■ Statutory Sick Pay: Belter lh\m
programs cosLing 10 times as much cm other midlines. ii^OiiB
■ Stock Control: Over 1500 imes Find, add, delete, in Z seconds
Sinclair or full-width plain, paper prm ten with interface ) supported.
Jb&5 00 » Spuctnim Demo Tape: D« triuf La-Ira.! jo n versions of payrol I .
stock cr.ntrnl.SSP On OIll- tape Jt3 98 ■ Critical Path Ajialynin Enter
network of over SOO activities Program fmds critical path Durations
and costs can be modified, and the calculation repeated Full -width
printer supported iilSOO
SPECTRUM 1 6K CtMbla On 4BKJ
■ Mortgage: : - •• how repayment amount affects duration and total
amount paid While paying, see haw much interest and how much
capital you are paying Mnnth by month table printed On the same
tape ■ Lou: Calculates true interest when paying instalments etc
£8 00 r both programs together )
Parallel Printer Interface*.
■ The Standard Interface: Centromcs interface Lo link your ZX
Spectrum to many popular dot matrix and daisywheel printers;. The
package includes: interlace, snmple word processor. 3 sets(duTerenl> of
printer software. cable, Centronics plug. full instructions TheUJUJT
and URlHTooiTimandg are supported Many other (features also £4S
inc. VAT P06t free a The Deluxe Interface: I ziCludes ah the features
of the standard package, and also has a 3 & mm jack socket and special
circuitry which allows the ZX Spectrum to Save and Load, without
having to unplug or switch anything! £St ine VAT Post Free ■ The
Professional Interface: Includes all the features of the deluxe
package, but also allows the £X Spectrum m he used as a very powerful
peripheral processor for a bigger computed Software is supplied which
post processes word processor output with straight right and left
margins £99 inc VAT Post Free
Tape Loa ding Froblo ma With Taur Corapnter?
■ Loading Aint Allows you to get tape playback level right first time
Helps with dropouts and to check tape quality too! Standard model
£5.65, TJe Juxe model £7.96 ■ The Microcomputer User's Book Of
Tape Recording: la a practical guide to help you get programs in and
out of your computer WriLten for the computer user but several audio
and computer professionals have found it useful! ISBN 0 946476" 00 4
0KLY£3.15 incj postage ( £2.90 in shops temporarily out of stock )
■ T«at and, Alignment Cassette: Tape loading problems are often due
to a mis- aligned tape head. Align your tape head by ear with our tape -
no instruments required! £4,90
zxai lex ^^^^^^
■Beamacan: Computers bending moment and shear force diagrams for
a simply supported beam with I 99 point, uniform and uniformly
tapered loads £25 00 ■ Time Ledger: For up to 17 employees. 200
clients £lf5 00 ■ Optlmax; A powerful linear optimisation program up
to 75 variables k . .constraints. £40.00 ■ PayraD: A,-- above but only
up to 30 employees. £2& .00 ■ Stock Control; As above but 40O stock
lines in 16K or 2000 lines m 64K ££5 00 ■ Critical Path Jmalyala;
tip to 500 activities in 16K Over 500 activities in 48 K £ 1 5 OO
• Budget: Keeps track of expenses and compares with budget 50
headings plus IE months or 13 categories £15.00 ■ Financial Pack:
Contains three programs- Mortgage, Loan and VAT fv6 00
AJI items are post free and include VAT Programs are supplied with
comprehensive manuals.
Aemember We at Hilderbay pride ourselves in the development of
high quality professional software that is fully functional and with full
support
Contact us now J or further mtormatlon on these products and our full
range nf Apple II Software
TRADE ENQUI
ATT.
PRODUCTS
Hilderbay
Professional Software
Hilderbay Ltd Dept SOI ft 10 Parkway Regents Park London NW1 7AA
Telephone. Ol 465 1056 Telex: 22370
SOFTWARE
WRITERS
If you write programs for the Spectrum or ZXS1 , are you being
paid what you are worth?
Having written a program which you think has potential, what
then? Send h to a software house and hope they are honest 5
Market it yourself and hsk thousands of pounds 7 Put it away in
^ drawer?
We are a profes&onal marketing company, interested only in
obtaining the highest rewards for software writers. We are noi
connected with any hardware or software manufacturers and
deal with writers hi total honesty. Most importantly, we can
secure deals for them, worldwide, which are way ariead of
anything they could negotiate trtemsehos.
If you have written a program, for any Sinclair computer,
which you think could be cornmeroial. send it to us on tape for
evaluation. We will advise you. free and without the sfcghtest
obligation, on the commercial prospects for your program.
NEIL GIBSON d( VMPA NY
Neil Gibson & Co.,
42, Aboeygate Sireet,
Bury St, Edmunds,
Suffolk
CHALKSOFT
LSS d P EDUCATIONAL
Telephone: 0905 55 T9? SOFTWARE
SPECIAL
CHRISTMAS
Hey Dad! We use
thai at school ..!
idea tor Xmas
I'll send off
today.
OFFER
Buy two Speaal &
Good computer shops
Or ZllOre everywhere
Slid rfPt * AcMBS * WTel a^aphortes
cuiugcit . Webster and other imaginative
£ J software distributors
* Simon Stable 'sfleai Time Tape
(! Voffuch.
(title
Pmcl MACHINE
1 TICK
'here
1 FUNCMAH 1 4 a An-maHnJ
WactuMtofl game Can you hwio
1 Puncnuin peal NDlhc *>|7 1 ? ¥ narsi
ce IS
see b
Spet+flu
E
1 STORY A SPANISH COLO
I The 1i f&i rtiuhichQicr iiiuatralfrd
■ Story tMO* tin sripti.n |«- 1 1 year*}
CMS
BBC 9
Soei. 4(1 k
| PIRATE Stmply Ihe t>c*i _ &BCB
adventure ^axna far young people - 1
1 17 loadultl illustrated Compulsive. E9 & Spec 46K
' LETTERS Let your mxra tnach LI ■ *S
1 your child to *nie' Orawi lo*«r
1 cue tetters.. dDH
BBC e
Spec 4»k
INKOSl be dn Aluran Kinfl' 'Cm
|Simui*Uon Can you look afteil hn ! ntw
and deieai i*m?wiTCh DOCTOR..' [Q-W
BBC B
Spec AfSty
Tick at least two. Remember, jf yog
only buy one you pay the old price
I Price* induce VAT BnO p4p
Tp Ch*JH4<X»1 L1fl
37 Wiiiowftie* Plosd
Worcester WR3 ;op
Weas* Mod m* tou* new
16 pjuc colour calllOQuB
1
I vnc^oM ■ ch«qua tot C
or deBif my Ar.ress no
Name
Addr»t>
Po«lcod#
I
120
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
Sarah finds- her name on thu Keysoh Family Tree Program
Introducing 4 New Keysoft programs
for your family to use and enjoy!
Big value for all your family!
4 great programs in one —
Bank account - keep out of the red!
Address file- computerise your
little black booki
Shopping List Printer - a helpful
reminder?
AND an addictive (non-violent) 2
£8,50 player game for the young at heart!
Choose your own diet!
This scientifically based program
helps you ease off those excess
pounds without exhausting aerobicsf
Calculate your own diet choosing the
fcxxis you want to eat Lose weight at
your own pace — You now have the
freedom to personalise your dietmg.
£^~9 5 (C8M64 available £7.95)
Dealer enquiries welcome
All programs are for the 48K Spectrum
Please allow 28 days for delivery
Postage paid for U.K, Orders
Add 1 S% for Overseas Orders
f 6.50
y
Keep tabs on your relations?
Looking for a long lost uncle? Are
you related to someone famous?
Use this program to keep records to
trace your family links. Even
produces a family tree diagram.
Options to amend, update and
browse through the family records.
Versatile filing program
Lots of uses in the office and home
with up to 40 user-definiable fields
Options to save onto MICRODRIVE or
cassette,
Menu driven — user friendly
Fast machine-code search facility
Variable length records to give
efficient use of memory.
£7.95
Send to;- (No stamp required for U.K. Orders)
KEYSOFT, FREEPOST, LONDON N1 7 6BR
□ Family Pack □ Keyfilfl ' I The Dietician □ Family Tree
Totaf enclosed
Ndme .......
Address
Push Code
sua
SINCLAIR ILSI-R January 1984
12]
SPECTRUM USERS
NOW A VAIL ABLE— THE ULTIMA TE
IN GAMES ACCESSORIES
THE FOX PROGRAMMABLE JOYSTICK INTERFACE
Th
*
★
*
*
e Interface with;
Total compatibility with all games.
Proven compatibility with the Microdrive.
Built in memory to store up to 16 different game keytops.
Battery back up so no loss of memory after power off.
Trickle charge batteries used so they recharge whilst in
use (no replacement needed).
Only one two-position switch for simplicity of use (no loose
wires or clips to attach).
Accepts any Atari type joystick.
Fully cased with through port for further expansion.
Can be used as a pseudo ROM for personal tool kit-
Just plug in switch on and play the game with Fox only £28.50 incl.
* SPECIAL CHRISTMAS OFFER *
Buy the Interface with the Quickshot Joystick or
the Triga Command Joystick (normally £12.50) for only
£37.50
INCL
ALSO AVAILABLE— THE FOX 48K
SPECTRUM UPGRADE
UPGRADE YOUR 16K to 48K
The kit reviewed as M Easiest to Fit" and "Best value for Money"
Simple insertion, no soldering required, full instructions and guaranteed.
Move on up to 48K
only £20*99 INCL
And at last the keyboard
with a space bar for
the Spectrum*
THE NEW FDS
This elegant desk
top system, designed
for the professional
user. In its slimline
case, the superior
keyboard contains all the
graphic characters for the above
computers. With the additional function
keys and SPACE-BAR, speedy and accurate data entry is made simple.
The Fuller FDS is easy to install, based on the very popular FD42
Send now to:
Fox Electronics Ltd,
141 Abbey Road, Basingstoke,
U ants RG21 9ED
Tel: 0256 20671.
Please send me
~~| Interface
□ Interface with Quickshot/Triga
I | Upgrade
~2 FDS Keyboard
Name
Address *
I enclose £
or please debit my Barclaycard
no. i I I I I I m m
Call*
122
SINCLAIR USER January tW4
Competitions
An easy solution for the
winner of our Microdrive
WINNER of the Spectrum
Microdrive and Interface
One competition in the Octo-
ber issue of Sinclair User is
Steve Dobb of Arnold, Not-
tingham. The idea was to run
through a computer program
into which we had introduced
several obvious bugs and
some which were not so obvi-
ous and to have the program
running to produce a code on
The screen. Dobb says: "I
managed to work out the
whole thing in half an hour."
Dobb has been unem-
ployed since he left college
last year and has had a Spec-
trum only since August. The
Spectrum is not, however, his
first experience of computers,
as he took a course in com-
puter studies at college.
The program had several
bugs, including a null string
in the data statement and a
PRINT line disguised as a
REM. The FOR. . . NEXT
loops were jumbled, and
there were too many items of
data.
It was not necessary to re-
write the program or TO put
the lines in the correct order.
All that had to be done was to
look for the statements which
were used to print on to the
screen. They included state-
ments To print the characters
61 1 on the screen which could
have been in any order, a iact
indicated by the way the pro-
gram was structured. The
puzzle ensured that anyone
who found the correct answer
would be able to use the Mi-
crodrive and Interface One to
the besi advantage.
When he receives his Mi-
crodrive, Dobb will noT be
thinking about what software
he can buy. "I don't think it's
worth waning for Microdrive
software to reach the market.
It would be a long wait, judg-
ing by what is happening at
the moment and the scarcity
of the devices".
He will be able to use the
Interface and Microdrive for
three main purposes. First,
the Microdrive will enable
him to store programs and
data and retrieve it quickly ,
The Interface provides an
RS232 connection which can
be used to run a large printer
or connect to another corn-
puter and a network to allow
other Spectrums to be linked.
Dobb is one of the few
people who have jumped the
Sinclair Research mailing list
effectively for one of the fast
storage devices.
Win three days in Cologne
Currah Computor Components, in association with Sinclair User, announces the
first great Microspeech competition. We are looking for the best arcade or
adventure game using the Currah speech synthesis unit.
First prize is a trip to Cologne for the International Computer Show irom June
14-17 1984 The prize includes airline tickets for two and three nights
accommodation in Cologne. The winner will also receive royalties from the
product which Currah Computor Components plans to market. Ten runners-up
will each receive a £10 software token.
Games will be judged on use of speech and sound as well as graphics,
entertainment value and payability.
Send your entries, together with the coupon below, to Microspeech Competi-
tion, Currah Computor Components Ltd, Silicon House, Graythorp Industrial
Estate, Hartlepool, Cleveland. Entries should be posted before April 30, 1984.
^Name * !
I Address * * •** ■
i •■■ -
Post your entry to Microspeech Competition, Currah Computor Com- ,
ponents Ltd, Silicon House, Graythorp Industrial Estate, Hartlepool, |
J Cleveland. Only entries accompanied by this coupon are valid.
SINCLAIR USER Jmtary l*M
123
>tell Software
for top quality programs
Make learning fun with these top quality educational games!
ifcjclion toco"!**™*
ncrt*9 and ITifff uw
in whopping
4-10 yra.
(Spftttrym
48k I
watch tfrni train mov*
'■ '■■wwr-; when you
type in the
n(|hri wofd
4-10 yra
,J«)H!.riL.m
or trie invaders win
mncj fir v i -j *- i?yn
i Spectrum t& 4Bk.
BBC B Electron i
choose. '<•■<
A r#rtQP Of
faatunes ami) tuilci
lip a 1»e:p pn trv-
x njon 2-6 yra
iSpeeirurh 4fl«. J
Mlcrai tor
OiW^n 1 -i MrKjl
tour educational games for
CfiiWran of 3-B yra Excellent
Spectrum programmes £6.95 BBC/Electron programmes only £7.95
Ask for Stall So ftware at larger branches of Boots, John Menzies. W. H Smith
and aH good computer shops, where most titles are available.
Stall Software 36 Limsf itld A**, Wh»H<y, Land,, BBS 9RJ.
124
SINCLAIR USER January 19X4
Inside...
Setting new standards in
educational software with
Sinclair- Macmillan
Plus six other learning programs
TODAY,
LEARNING
IS A
NEW GAME
Subsidised microcomputers are
now commonplace as teaching
aids for the very youngest
children and the ZX Spectrum is
prominent amongst those micros
at use in schools.
In the relatively short time
that the Spectrum has been at
work in the classroom, two
questions have been answered
Yes: with the right software, the
micro can and does teach effec-
tively and thoroughly (and gives
teachers more time to devote to
individual pupils). Yes: young
children think little of working
rapidly and successfully, with a
screen and keyboard, on even
quite compiex subjects.
In this Sinclair Special
we reveal a range of educational
software specifically designed to
make full use of these advan-
tages. The programs produced
by Sinclair in collaboration with
Macmillan Education are fasci-
nating They deal imaginatively
and most effectively with early
reading skills and take a truly
refreshing approach to basic
science.
In the Blackboard range
weVe programs which bring a
light-hearted clarity to the tricky
matters of spelling and
punctuation.
These programs are designed
for use both at home and in the
classroom. Each program is
accompanied by full documenta-
tion which gives parents helpful
advice and guidance on the
educational objectives.
The programs covered on
these pages represent only a
fraction of the full and fast-
growing list of Spectrum soft-
ware. Be assured we'll keep you
in touch with new developments
as they happen.
David Park
Education Marketing Manager
NEW WAYS TO LEARN WITH
THE ZX SPECTRUM
Programs from Blackboard Software
The new range of educational programs from Blackboard Software makes
learning an enjoyable process by involving the child in a game which teaches as
il entertains.
Each program has a step-by-step example section and gives correct answers
after a number of attempts. Vocabulary changes can be made f allowing each
program to keep pace with the child's development. This flexibility can also be
used in the classroom to cater for children of differing ability.
The instructive and colourful games which follow the successful completion of
each group of sentences provide useful practice in letter recognition and
increase familiarity with the Spectrum keyboard.
All programs are written for the 48K RAM Spectrum
O
9
m
Alphabet Games
Three games of letter recognition {using either upper
or lower case) to help children learn the alphabet
and find their way round the computer keyboard.
Alphagaps - The full alphabet is displayed, along
with a second, incomplete version. The child must
fill in the missing letters.
Random Rats - Press the letter key that is
displayed on the gun to destroy the rats which have
invaded the cellar!
Invaders - Stop little green men from landing on
Earth by pressing the appropriate letter
Early Punctuation
While an animated matchstick man marches above
displayed sentences the child must decide which
punctuation mark is missing and where to insert it.
At the touch of a key the matchstick man drops the
mark into place After successful completion of every
sentence in the exercise, light relief comes in the
form of a bottle- shooting game!
The Apostrophe
As each sentence is displayed, a bird appears with
a worm in its beak. The keyboard is used to move
the bird and drop the worm into the correct place
for the apostrophe. When ten sentences have been
corrected, the Grub Game is displayed Press the
correct character to change the grub into a
butterfly, before it munches through a flower f
Capital Letters
A program to teach the use of capital letters
Sentences incorporating proper nouns and
sentences without opening capitals are displayed.
The child inserts the correction by guiding an
animated figure to the appropriate letter.
For each correct answer an apple grows on a tree
After ten correct answers the child's skills in recog-
nising letters and using the Spectrum keyboard are
needed to save the apples as they fall lo the ground
Speech Marks
A comprehensive program including sentences with
one or two sets of speech marks ('"inverted commas")
and exercises in both direct and reported speech.
Using the Spectrum keyboard, a cursor is used to
guide speech marks to the correct position. The
program offers three levels of difficulty, with full
examples for each section. Guide Max the mouse
through a maze, after the correct completion
of five sentences from each section, but beware of
Persian cats!
Castle Spellerous
A spelling game with ten levels of vocabulary,
including words with silent first letters, double letters
and other difficult words. The Princess has been
captured and carried off to Castle Spellerous Helped
by ten soldiers, the child can attempt a rescue by
giving the right answers Part of a siege tower is built
for each correctly spelt word. Mistakes are costly —
the wicked wizard appears as a vampire bat, turning
the men into frogs, butterflies and bats!
When ten words are spelt correctly the rescue
begins and the wizard takes flight
SINCLAIR + MACMILLAN: A NEW DIMENSION
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
Sinclair have joined forces with Macmillan Education to
produce a completely new and different range of educational
software The results so far can be seen in these exceptional
programs.
The Learn to Read series is derived from Macmillan
Education's best-selling primary school reading scheme,
Gay Way It offers a unique opportunity for parents and
teachers to participate in the child's first experience in
reading,
Macmillan Education s Science Horizons is one of Britain's
most successful school science schemes Each program
concentrates on key scientific ideas and, through simulation
of real life, makes the learning process entertaining and
enjoyable.
Learn to Read 1
Learn to Read 1 is designed for children who
are just beginning to read. It is in four parts,
each of which develops skills central to the
reading process - letter recognition, sight
vocabulary, early spelling and memory. The
program is full of colour and fun and
children will enjoy learning to read as they
meet the animal characters - Ben the dog,
Jip the cat and their friends
Learn to Read 2
Learn to Read 2 extends the fundamental
reading skills practised in the first program,
as well as encouraging logical thinking, The
child's vocabulary is gradually built up as
new words such as "red' 1 "green" "car''
' ship' 1 and "bus" are introduced In addition,
Learn to Read 2 features an attractive
reward' system enabling children to see
their achievements grow.
Learn to Read 3
Learn to Read 3 builds on the child's
progress so far, so that he or she can gain
the confidence to move on through the
complex reading process. Learn to Read 3
features four different activities, all of which
are colourful and lively. Further vocabulary
is introduced until the child is reading more
than 30 words.
Learn to Read 4
Learn to Read 4 is the alphabet program in
the Learn to Read series.
Using various stimulating activities the
program gives the child plenty of practice in
working with the alphabet - matching initial
letters to words and pictures and spotting
missing letters. These exercises build
familiarity with simple sequences within the
alphabet
Learn to Read 5
Learn to Read 5 teaches positional
language - often difficult to understand and
remember — by using words and phrases
such as "behind" and "in front of,' "inside"
and "outside."
The program fi rst demonstrates the
meanings of the words using clear pictures.
It then tests the child's understanding of the
words in two lively games.
Cargo
Set sail around the world Choose your ports
of call — New York, Tokyo. Belem, Helsinki
- then the real challenge begins! You must
reach your destinations safely, weathering
storms on the way. But first, load your cargo
— using all your knowledge and skill. Poor
loading can mean capsizing and sinking.
\bur rank, if not your life, is always at stake!
Glider
Be a glider pilot] The glider models real-life
gliding conditions so that you can learn
through experience. As the pilot you must
consider the time of day, the amount of cloud
cover and the kind of terrain below you in
order to find the up-cur rents of air that will
keep you airborne. Try to fly as far as
possible and, when you are high enough,
navigate your way back to your home airfield
and land safely — if you can
Survival
Discover what it is like to be an animal in the
wild! Be a lion stalking your prey, escaping
human hunters. Or be a hawk, mouse or
even a butterfly, searching for food and
avoiding predators.
Survival models the natural world and
brings to life hazards that different creatures
must face in their struggle to stay alive.
Magnets
With an army of small magnets you set out to
conquer the powerful supermagnets of your
opponent You have one weapon - your
forces of magnetic attraction and repulsion.
The strategy is simple: attract smaller
magnets to build strength to repel the super-
magnet. When cornered, just turn your poles
on your enemy and see what happens 1
Learn to Read and Science Horizons programs are written tor a 48K RAM Spectrum , and are supplied complete with
comprehensive supporting documentation for parents and teachers.
Loads programs instantly
Takes two joysticks
Just plug-in and play
The IX Interface 2 is the latest new
peripheral for the ZX Spectrum system,
it enables you to use new ZX ROM
cartridge software; plug-in programs
that load instantly. There are ten terrific
games already available on cartridge.
ZX Interface 2 also allows you to use
one or two standard joysticks without
the need for separate special interfaces
To use new ZX ROM Cartridge
programs, just connect Interface 2 to
the rear of your Spectrum or Interface 1
and plug in the cartridge of your choice-
Switch on and the program is then
loaded, ready to run!
You can use any joystick that has a
9-way D plug. Use one or two of them
for extra fun with suitable 2X ROM
cartridge or Sinclair cassette programs
- or with dozens of other Spectrum
programs.
ZX MICRODRIVE/
ZX INTERFACE 1
The ZX Microdrive System is unique
This compact, expandable add-on
system provides high-speed access to
massive data storage. With just one
Microdrive and a ZX Interface 1 you II
have at least 85K bytes of storage, the
ability to LOAD and SAVE in a matter of
seconds, the beginnings of a local area
network of up to 64 Spectrums and a
built-in RS232 interface. The cost?
Less than C80.
How to get ZX Microdrive and
ZX Interface 1
Spectrum owners who bought direct
from us by mail order have been sent
full details. Order forms are being mailed
in strict rotation, (f you haven't yet
received your order form please bear
with us. We're making good progress in
meeting the huge demand.
If you didn't buy your Spectrum by
mail order, send us the form at the
bottom of this page and we'll add your
name to the mailing list
How to order
Complete the appropriate sections on
the order form below. Note that there is
no postage or packing to pay on soft-
ware purchases Orders may be sent
FREEPOST {no stamp needed). Credit
card holders may order by phone,
calling 01 -200 0200, 24 hours a day
Please allow 28 days for delivery
Sinclair, ZX Spectrum. ZX Microdrive.
ZX, ZX Interface are trade marks of
Sinclair Research Ltd,
Sinclair Research Ltd, Stanhope Road, Camber ley
Surrey, GU15 3 PS. Telephone: <0276> 665311
To: Sinclair Research Ltd, FREEPOST. Camber ley.. Surrey, GUI 5 3 BR
ORDER FORM
Section A: Hardware
E20/S
Spoor " Mr.rk':,
43*B
795
Oty Item
Code
Item Price
Total
E21/S
Apostrophe
4320
79S
£
I
E22/S
Capital Letters
4321
7 95
ZX Interface 2
fl5Q ■
19 95
E23/S
Castle Spellerous
4322
7 95
ZX Spectrum - 4SK
3000
129 95
E24/S
Alphabet Games
4323
7 95
ZX Spectrum -16K
3002
9995
TOTAL £
Postage and packing orders under £90
0028
2 95
orders over £90
0029
4 95
TOTAL £
Section B: Software
E10/S Learn 10 Read 1
4309
9 95
EM/S Learn to Read 2
4310
9 95
E12/S Learn to Read 3
4311
9 95
E l 3/S Learn to Read 4
43t2
995
E14VS Learn to Read 5
4313
9.95
E15/S Cargo
4314
9 95
EleVS Girder
4315
995
E17/S Survival
4316
9 95
E18/S Magnets
4317
9 95
E 1 9 ■' S Fariy Punctuation
4315
7 95
• I enclose & chequed postal order made
payable to Sinclair Research Ltd for £
* Please charge my Access; Barclay card/Tru&lcard account no
*D*t*t«/comptel6 .
a* applicable I 1 I I I I I J I I J
Mill
Signature
Mr/Mrs/MiSS
III
AddrOTa l I I I I I I I | | | I | | I | | |
I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I
I I I I I I I I I I I I
M r , ■]< 1
(Please print)
ZX Microdrive 8 information request
Please add my name to the Microdrive Mailing List and send me a colour brochure with full specifications
ZX Microdrive/Interface 1 □ (tick here).
Free Sinclair ZX 5 Software Catalogue
PJease reserve my priority copy of the January 1984 Sinclair ZX Spectrum Software Cataloguer; (tick here).
Computer facts are made
easy for beginners
John Gilbert looks at some new books on machine code and at a
lively computer series aimed at youngsters
NO PUBLISHER, until now, has
gone to the trouble of providing
a range of books on machine
code for the beginner and the advanced
Z-8G programmer. The situation has
been remedied by Interface Publica-
tions. It has just released three books,
two of which form a series.
The first stand-atone book is Master-
ing Machine Code on Your ZX Spectrum
by Toni Baker. Former owners of ZX-
81s may notice that the book is an
update on Interfaces ZXSi machine
code book. The contents are similar to
the earlier version, although the Spec-
trum book is longer because of the
introduction of extended chapters on
printing characters on the screen and an
update on advanced features on the
Spectrum, There the differences end.
The examples in the text, which
usually consist of whole chapters, are
the same as in the ZX-81 version. They
include a graffiti program which dis-
plays the Spectrum character set and
three chapters which show how a game
of draughts is put together.
One useful part is a long chapter
which provides a dictionary of all the
instructions you can give to the Z-80
processor. It turns the book into a
useful reference guide which should be
of use io ill I beginners. 1c will, however,
be of little use to advanced program-
mers — unless they want to brush-up on
their terms.
The book is well-produced and you
should have few problems with typing-
in most of the examples. One small
criticism is that a Sinclair ZX printer is
used to produce an assembly language
listing. All other listings are typeset and
that listing sticks out like a sore thumb,
as well as being difficult to read in some
places.
The book also contains some useful
appendices which give tables of conver-
sions between hexadecimal and decimal
and also a list of symptoms variables
which can be used either in machine
code or in Basic programs. Mastering
Machine Code on Your ZX Spectrum
costs £5.95.
The other two books from Interface
form a series. Spectrum Machine Code
Made Easy t Volume One is for the begin-
ner. It is easy to follow and starts, as
with most other machine code books,
with an introduction to binary and hex-
adecimal number systems.
The layout of the beginners ! book
seems to have been thought through
carefully, as each chapter deals w r ith one
of the major aspects of machine code
and, unlike some other books on the
market, does not disconcert the reader
by moving into another realm halfway
through a chapter.
Most of rhe aspects of machine code
covered in Baker's book are included
but this is better as it is easier to read
and the layout of text and illustrative
examples is better*
The one criticism is that the Listings,
like Baker's, are sometimes set in type
and sometimes listed on the Sinclair
printer.
The companion volume is Spectrum
Machine Code Made Easy, Volume Two.
It is for the advanced programmer and
takes it for granted that you have some
knowledge of machine code. Because of
the complexity of jumps, both relative
and absolute, in programs and the spe-
cialised logical operations, there are sep-
arate chapters on those subjects.
That is as far as the book goes along
conventional Lines, however, as the au-
thor, Paul Holmes, explains the use of
ports and interrupt modes. They are
two subjects which are rarely men-
tioned in books of this kind.
The ports are deah with in Basic jnd
machine code and some interesting ef-
fects are obtained with sound and col-
our on the Spectrum.
No previous pure machine code book
has dealt with interrupts in the Z-RO
system. This one explains the subject
easily and competently. The chapter on
interrupts justifies what is anyway a
good book on machine code and even if
you do not buy volume one, which is
also excellent, is well worth £5.95,
which is the price of each volume.
On a simpler level, Usbourne Books
has a new series to back-up its first
series of games books for various ma-
chines which it launched last year. Six
of the books would make excellent pre-
sents for young children.
The first is The Information Revolu-
tion. It contains information about all
kinds of devices, including computers,
which can be used to communicate
from one part of this planet to another,
and even into outer space. It looks into
the future and examines the introduc-
tion of cable communication devices
within cities, so that you could sec
people as well as talk to them on the
telephone and do your shopping at
home using a computer. Much of what
is discussed in this colourful book may
seem like science fiction but most of it is
available now.
The second book is Practical Things
To Do With A Microcomputer. It investi-
gates robots, shows how computers cre-
ate cryptograms or codes, and illustrates
how to write programs using almost any
computer you might possess.
It will introduce computer tech-
nology to a child and, if the child
already* knows about computers, it
should expand horizons even more.
continued on page 130
SINCLAIR USER January I9H4
\2<i
Books
continued from page 129
Some of the examples may be a Little
difficult to understand but, with help
from parents, children should cope.
Write Your Own Adventure Programs,
also from Usbourne, follows in the vein
of the previous book. It starts with an
introduction to adventuring and shows
how to build an adventure program,
from the creation of the plot to the
programming of the code into the com-
puter.
Unfortunately, Usbourne has stayed
with the concept of an adventure game,
using dungeons and dragons or haunted
castle. It says little of the space adven-
ture or the adventure set at some time in
the distant past. Even so, Like all the
series, the book is well «H Lust rated and
should give most children interested in
adventure games a start.
Practise Your Basic takes a young
child from the rudiments of the Basic
programming language and, using ex-
amples, puzzles and tests, tries to give
the child some idea of programming
technique and the way in which pro-
grams should be structured. Most of the
programs illustrated are games but the
techniques used can be adapted for use
in other types of program.
The final book in the series is called
Computer Jargon Illustrated and is
worth its weight in gold. The text and
illustrations will take a child step-by-
step through the language of comput-
ers. It is one of the few books which
docs not dodge the issue of explaining
in plain English what words such as hex
or POKE mean and, in some cases, how
those terms developed.
It is good to see that the book is
sectionalised, so that high-level lan-
guages are all explained in a panel on
one page. Some may argue that one
page is not sufficient to explain such a
suhjeci but this book is easy 10 read and
does its job well.
All the books in the Usbourne Series
stand out because of the way the text
and illustrations merge to form a com-
prehensive explanation of the subject
being discussed. They cost £1.99 each
and for the minimal outlay are excellent
value. It is good to see that one com-
pany at least is trying to educate the
younger and next generation in the use
of computers.
Interface Publications. 44 46 Earls Court
Road, London W8 6EJ,
Usbourne Books, 20 Garrick Street, London
WC2E 9BJ.
" But I'm
it said i
sure that's what
e manual!"
Be honest how many times have you said that to yourself f?
How many hours have you spent wading through the jargon
n the manual? How often have you wondered why ii look so
long toexplain one simple procedure?
Recognising the limitations of the manufacturer s manual
Penguin have published GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR
SINCLAIR SPECTRUM Already being hailed as the Spectrum
users bible' this concise, practical,
and up-to-date book is destined
to become the standard reference
work on this fascinating machine.
The books many features include:-
* Teletype typeface for easy
program identification.
* Large size for easy use.
* Chapters which take you from
unpacking through graphics, sound
and colour, to program design, fault
diagnosis and fault correction.
*4 page colour insert illustrating graphics
* Special hints— a section on the things
the manufacturers forgot to tell you!
"HE MOST FROM YOUR SINCLAIR SPECTRUM
From THE PENGUIN PERSONAL COMPUTER COLLECTION
AVAILABLE AT ALL GOOD BOOKSHOPS ..NOW
\
GETT THETHE
MOST FKDM YOUB
SINCLAIR
SPECTRUM
* * * E ft t ,
mm * * % «
130
SINCLAIR USER fan w 1984
SKCMt HtWmRSMl
2X8/ SOFTWARE AT
HALF NORMM PRICES!
If you find Spectrum owners get the best of software supplies these days - our great New Year offer will
change all that!
Only for ZX81 Owners - our wide selection includes some of the best programs ever produced for the
ZX81 - and we're bringing you fantastic savings as well.
Just look at our New Year list — then work out how much you can save, and send the coupon today for
your software choice - because at these prices — our stocks won't last for long!
Normal Sale
Price Price
Backgammon 16K 5.95 2.95
Reversi/Othello 16K 6.95 3.45
Normal Sale
Price Price
ZX-81 Games
Software
Super
Programs Nos.
1to8 IK 4.95 2.45
Fantasy Games 16K 4.75 2.30
Space Raiders 16K 4.75 2.30
ZX-81 Household/
Biorhythms 16K 6.95
Chess 16K 6.95
3.45
3.45
[To: The Software Workshop, Yew Tree, Selbome, Hants GU34 3 JP
j I wish to order the following programs,
i
I N.B, As we expect heavy demand please indicate alternatives if possible
:
i
i
Qty
Title
Postage, packing and handling: add 45p for the
first cassette, and 25p fof each additional
cassette. Non-UK orders add extra 50% for postage
I enclose a cheque/postal order for
Name .
Total
Price
'Address
[(Mb* 28 days MAXIMUM FOR DELIVERY]
Normal
Sale
Price
Price
English
Literature 1
16K
6 .95
3,45
English
Literature 2
16K
6 95
3.46
Junior
Education 1
IK
3.95
1.95
Junior
Education 2
1K
3.95
1.95
History
IK
6.95
3.45
Maths
IK
6 95
3.45
Music
1K
6.95
3,45
Inventions
IK
6.95
3.45
Spelling
IK
6.95
3.45
Vu Calc
16K
7.95
3.95
Vu File
16K
7.95
3.95
Collectors Pack16K
9.95
4.95
Club Record
Controller
16K
9.95
4,95
Business &
Household
16K
3,95
1.95
Toolkit
16K
5.95
2.95
Comp-U-Share
16K
9.95
4.95
Comp-U-Tax
16K
9.95
4.95
Purchase
Ledger
16K 1750
8.75
Sales Ledger
16K 17.50
8-75
Accounts —
Limited Co,
16K 19.95
9,95
Accounts —
Sole Trader
16K 19 95
9.95
URES INT
L
CREDIT CARD HOTLINE
0628* 63531 |24 HOURS)
rerrifvinn rnn rnnfrr.nr ^nrl fcr fff C m jnr (frp^ruci
RICHARD SHEPHERD
SOFTWARE
Super Spy
Follow the trail of Or Death through
complex puzzles, coded messages and
3-D mazes until you find his fair! eut
beware — even with your death -
defying gadgets you may nor Irve to tell
the tale! £6.50
[""■*]■• program jiFif kAI ttJDjFt t 10
Selected titles available from
H. SMITH, BOOTS, MENZIES
2 ALL LEADING COMPUTER STORES
RICHARD-SHEPHERD
SOFTWARE
ELM HOUSE. 23-25 ELMSHOTT L^UYE, OPPENH/UH, SLOUGH. BERKSHIRE.
Wjypf Wide Of ocnefwisg. Em tent mnpd om. weld Of atr^r^ng gifgutMKJ Aitu^ p-^ ^titter, pcmvwy ~"v • .■ - ^ p^,,-. 1
"ADV
INTO IMAGINA1
noN"
Selected titles available from
W. H. SMITH, BOOTS, MEMZIES
AND ALL LEADING COMPUTER STORES
imm i »
!■>■» at /
RICHARD SHEPHERD
SOFTWARE
Ship of trie Line
Command a sailpng ship, juggle yam
supplies, crew and firepower Fearlessly
battle your way up the admiralty ladder,
on be Sea Lords as necessary until you
ma ke Fi rsr Sea Lord! £6,50
xhaust
Seven Parchments of Xaro and thesr neanrng' Will
they lead you to undreamt of treasures or eternal
doom? Explore the mysteries of the stockade and
puzzle within the Pagoda I A spectacular spfit - \ f.
screen graphic and text adventure
you for weeks!
Adventurous graphics for every I
Save routine E6.50
RICHARD SHEPHERD
SOFTWARE "
f
CREDIT CARD HOTLINE
06286 63531 (24 HOURS)
RICHARD SHEPHERD
SOFTWARE
Everest Ascent
Conquer the world's highest peak in
defiance of aPJ the obstacles, man and
nature can throw at you Survive
a va ranches, cross bottomless crevasses
cope with wayward Sherpas — but
don't run out of supplies! £6.50
I L A ^3 -^O L I C D L I C D r\ avalanches, cross bottomless crevasses,
nlUM AnU Ft t " ri t h LJ cope with wayward Sherpas — but
don t run out of supplies! £6.50
SOFTWARE
ELM HOUSE, 23-25 ELM5HQTT LANE, ClFPEMHAM, SLOUGH, BERKSHIRE.
All pfoqf-wm Mr v>H subj« [ [o tr* cofxubon tn« IFWy may not Qy ntsfdf IttdtQf oi*tiv*\te. Ew lent, mrW M, Of OT^f fWrse c*(uH<ed *flhOu( ttn ^rmyi pwrm-mon or fl<rwd Sntp^o
A simple way to save
string variables on tape
Our expert Andrew Hewson offers some hints on storing and tells
you how to create new user-defmed graphics characters
ONE OF the many useful facili-
ties present on the Spectrum
but not on the ZX-81 is the
extension to the SAVE command which
enables the programmer to SAVE not
only programs on cassette but also the
screen display, machine code and Basic
variables. Unfortunately the syntax of
the SAVE command is not so sophisti-
cated as it might be, so that it is possible
to SAVE only one variable at a time. It
is always possible to SAVE variables
one after the other on the same cassette
but, as Alex Randall of Chipping
10 INPUT "ENTER A STRING";Z$
20 LET VAR5 = PEEK 21657 + 256* PEEK
21628
30 for I=VARS TO VARS+ I t
40 PRINT PEEK I, CHRS PEEK I
50 NEXT 1
table 1. A Spectrum program which
looks at the first few bytes of the varia-
ble srea of memory.
90 Z
<i
0 ?
72 11
69 E
76 L
80 P
45 -
76 L
73 I
78 N
69 E
Table 2. The display which results when
the program in table one is RUN and
"HEIJMJNE" is entered in response to
the input request,
Campden points out, that is most incon-
venient because the "Start tape, then
press any key" message appears each
time a new variable is to be SAVEd.
There are several ways round the
problem but probably the simplest is to
manipulate the variables area in RAM
before SAVEing so that it appears to the
relevant ROM routines to consist of one
large string variable.
Load and RUN the Basic routine
listed in table one and enter "HELP-
LINE" in response to the input re-
quest. The program illustrates the
method used to store string variables in
memory. The resulting display is
shown in table two.
The program works by using the
VARS system variable held at 23627
and 23628 to identify the beginning of
the variables area in memory. Provided
thai the program is invoked by entering
RUN, the string entered by the user,
Z$, lies at the bottom of that area
because it is the first variable assigned
in the routine. Thus the FOR-NEXT
loop PEEKs and PRINTs the memory
locations which hold the contents of ZS.
It is clear that strings are stored in
memory in straightforward fashion.
The first byte of the appropriate area
contains the character code of the letter
which identifies the string, in this case
Z. The next two bytes together specify
the length of the string in the form:
String length = PEEK first byte
+ 256*PEEK second byte
In that case the siring contains nine
characters and so the first byte is 9 and
the second is 0. Hence if we ensure that
the first character in the variables area is
a string, POKE the length of the entire
variables area into the two locations
which define the length of the string,
and use the SAVE command to store
10 LET Z|- w "
20 REM CREATE SOME DATA TO BE
SAVED
30 DIM A(2)
40 LET A<1} -32767
50 LET A(2)- 65536
60 LET AS = 'SINCLAIR USER"
100 REM ROUTINE TO SAVE ALL VAR-
IABLES
HO LET V = PEEK 23627 + 256* PEEK
23628
120 LET L-PEEK 23641 + 256*PEEK
23642+ 2- V
J 30 POKE 23296 s INT {L/256)
140 POKE V+ I, L- 256-INT (L/256)
150 POKE PEEK 23627 + 256*PEEK
23628 + 2 7 PEEK 23296
160 SAVE "ALLVARS" DATA Z*)
170 CLEAR
20O REM ROUTINE TO LOAD ALL VAR-
IABLES
210 LOAD "ALLVARS" DATA Z$f)
220 POKE PEEK 2362 7 + 256*PEEK
23628,90
230 POKE PEEK 23627 + 256*PEEK
23628+ 1,0
240 POKE PEEK 23627 +256* PEEK
23628 + 2,0
300 REM PRINT VARIABLES
310 PRINT "ZJ-";ZJ
320 PRINT "A(])-="; A(l)
330 PRINT "A(2)-' h ; A(2)
340 PRINT ' AS -"; At
350 PRINT "v="; V
360 "L-"; L
Tabic 3„ Spectrum routine* which dem-
onstrate a technique for SAVEing and
LOADing all variable*.
fen
3 rtU
e^ 1
134
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
»Pidie addrta problems and queries to Andrew
Hca-sott, Helpline, Graham Otne, Blewbttry,
Oxfordshire.
the string on cassette 5 we will have
succeeded in SAVEing all the current
variables.
The program in table three demon-
strates the technique. Line 10 and lines
1 10 to 160 are the functional part of the
SAVEing routine and lines 210 to 240
are the functional part of the LOADing
routine. I have included the remaining
lines only to prove that the method
works.
The new length for Z$ is calculated
by subtracting the value in VARS from
the address of the beginning of the Edit
Line area, held in the system variable
E.LINE at 23641 and 23642. The re-
sult is adjusted to take account of the
byte occupied by the string identifier,
the two bytes occupied by the string
length, the byte containing 128 which
marks the end of the variables area, and
the six bytes which will be required for
the variable L which does not exist at
the time the calculation takes place.
A circuitous route via a temporary
store — I have chosen to use the printer
buffer — must be taken to POKE the
result into the appropriate locations,
because the routine causes all the Basic
variables except Z$ to become tempo-
rarily inaccessible.
Spectrum Basic permits only nu-
meric or string arrays to be SAVEd —
see page 208 of the Spectrum manual —
and so the syntax checker will not per-
mit the entry of a line such as:
SAVE "ALLCHARS" DATA Z$
Hence the program SAVEs Z$ as if it
were a siring array, i.e., in the form
ZS(). It is surprising that the SAVE
routine in the ROM does not halt with
an error report when that line is en-
countered. The Spectrum distinguishes
string arrays from strings in the varia-
bles area by adding 128 to the code for
the identifying letter. For example, the
code for the string Z$ is 90 and the code
for the string array Z$() is
90+128 = 218,
So an inconvenient consequence of
SAVEing Z$ as if it were an array is that
the contents of the identifying byte is
increased by 128. Line 220 in the
LOADing routine corrects the value to
90 and lines 230 and 240 re-set the
Decimal
Assembly
Continent
42 75 92
LD HLy(23627)
Load HI. with address in VARS
126
LP A,(HL)
Copy first byte to A
254 90
CP 90
Compare with 90 (code for /)
40 2
JR Z,2
Jump if code is 90
207
RST8
Error detected— rcium to Basic
27
DEFB 27
wiih «mr code "5"
235
EX DEJII.
Copy VARS to DE
42 89 92
LD HU( 23641)
Load HL with address in E_L1NE
140
LD BC,4
Load BC with 4
167
AND A
Clear carry Hag
217 82
SBC HL,DE
Calculate new length
237 66
SBC HL,BC
for ZS
235
EX PE>UI
and store in DE
35
INC HL
Copy new length
1 L5
I D (HL),E
to the appropriate
35
INC HL
pair of bytes
114
LD (HL),D
in Z$
201
RET
End
42 75 92
LD HL S (23627)
Load HL with address in VARS
126
LD A,(HL)
Copy First byte to A
254 2 IB
CP 218
Compare with code for Z+ 128
40 2
JR 2,2
and iump if correct value
207
RST 8
Otherwise return to Basic
26
DEFB 26
wilh error code R
54 90
LD (HI.),90
Rcsci byte to code for Z
35
INC HL
Reset
54 0
LD (HL^O
length
35
ICNHL
of 2$
54 0
LD (HL),D
to zero
201
RET
hi -J
Twi Spectrum
matching code routines for SAVEing and LOADing all variables.
10 INPUT "ENTER TIM LETTER TO
BE REDEFINED"; AS
20 LET AS = CI IRS (CODE
At- 32 -(AS >'*£"»
30 IF At>* 4 A" OR A$> T" THEN KEEP
.2,24: GOTO 10
40 FOR 1-0 TO 7
50 INPUT "ENTER BYTE NUMBER"; J
60 IF J<0 OR J>2« THEN BEEP .2,24:
GOTO 50
70 POKE L'SR A$ + L J
80 NEXT I
Table 5. A Sp-ectrum program Tor defin-
ing new user-defined graphics charac-
ters.
.
length of Z$ to zero. The remainder of
the program demonstrates that the data
has all been recovered.
T seem often to receive a number of
letters all on broadly the same topic.
This month several readers have ex-
pressed interest in the use of graphics
characters on the Spectrum. Emmanuel
Wilkms of Brussels wants to know:
How can one re-design the Spec-
trum letters? whereas Garry Baker of
Hartlepool asks: How do you get
more than 21 high- resolution
graphics characters?
John Row of Warrington has a
specific application in mind. He writes:
How can I call up as many as 200
Egyptian hieroglyphs? I might men-
lion in passing thai I never cease to be
amazed at the uses to which the million
or so Sinclair users are putting their
machines. Egyptian hieroglyphs —
whatever next?
There are two methods for creating
new characters, apart from using the
DRAW, PLOT and CIRCLE com-
mands which are too slow and cumber-
some for most purposes. The simplest is
to make use of the user-defined graphics
facility in which up to 21 new charac-
ters can be defined and assigned, one to
each of the letter keys A to U*
The form of each new character is
stored in eight bytes of the 168 bytes
reserved for the purpose at the top of
memory above RAMTOP. The charac-
ter assigned to a given key can be
obtained by pressing the graphics key —
CAPS SHIFT 9 - before and after
pressing the letter key.
The method of encoding and decod-
ing the eight bytes can be understood
with the help of some knowledge of
binary numbers. Every character in the
Spectrum character set, and every new
character created by the user, is defined
relative to an eight-by-eight grid. Each
element in the grid is called a pixel.
Each pixel can be set to either the INK
conftnued on pagf 30
SINCLAIR USER January 1 984
135
• i * * * ♦ f
•3EATH CHASE;. U f %
. . / .By M.J. ESTCOURT • : ■; # "
For any Spectrum
ALL TITLES £6 95 &NC VAT.
SELECTED MIC ROM EG A PRODUCTS
THROUGH BOOTS. GREENS. ASDA.
JOHN MENZIES LASKYS, WIGFALL
fiUMBELOWS HMV, SELFRlDGES,
WH SMITHS SPECTHUM SHOPS
EVERYWHERE AN D ALL OTHER GOOD
SOFTWARE STOCKISTS
Trade
PRISM 01 253 22*^
WEBSTERS SOFTWAR
LIGHTNING RECORDS
MICRO DEALER-UK*^
Enqiires
I
969 5255
51
■mi IM mi l r i h» 1 i « J ■ ■«* A • 1 - I ■ | l<i«KPl Wirlll&M* LB_L'
are Ltd 230 Lavender Hill London SW1 1 1 LE
continued from page 27
or the PAPER colour and it is the
precise arrangement of INK- or
PAPER-coloured pixels in the eight-by-
eight grid which creates each character.
Each of the eight bytes devoted to a
character defines the setting of one hori-
zontal line of eight pixels using the
following system. The contents of a
byte, which necessarily lies in the range
0 to 255 in decimal is read as an eight-
digit binary number so that there is a
one-to-one correspondence between pix-
els and binary digits. A binary number
consists of zeros and ones only. All
pixels for which the corresponding bi-
nary digit is zero are set to the PAPER
colour, whereas all pixels for which the
corresponding digit is one are set to the
INK colour.
Very often the first and last bytes of
the group of eight controlling a given
character are zero. Those two bytes
determine the top and bottom of the
character respectively and a zero setting
ensures that all the corresponding pixels
are set to the PAPER colour; thus*
when the character appears on the
screen, it is well-separated from other
items on the lines above and below.
For a similar reason each byte usually
contains an even number which is also
less than 128. As a result, all pixels at
the right and left are also set to the
PAPER colour, so that the character is
distinguished easily from its fellows on
either side.
When the Spectrum is first switched
on the user-defined graphics characters
are set to a copy of the capital letters on
the corresponding key, it is a simple
matter to alter the characters. Table five
lists a Basic program which does the
job. I have also listed in table six the
numeric codes for the letters in the
Greek alphabet.
The system is designed to provide a
set of) at most, 21 new characters but
additional sets can be defined by alter-
ing the UDG systems variable which is
held at 23675 and 23676. The number
in UDG is the address of the first byte
of the first graphics character, i.e., the
character assigned to the A key. When
the Spectrum is switched on it is set to
32600 — 16K machine — or 65368 —
48K machine — thus reserving 168
bytes for the 21 characters between the
UDG address and the top of RAM.
In principle, UDG can be changed to
point to any address in RAM but the
simplest approach is to reduce it by 168
for each additional character set re-
quired. It is also necessary to reduce
RAM TOP by a similar amount so that
the graphics characters do not interfere
with the stack, thereby causing the ma-
chine to crash.
RAMTOP normally is set to one less
than the value of UDG and the CLEAR
instruction must be used to alter it.
Thus the procedure to create space for
one additional set of graphics characters
on the 16K machine is to enter;
CLEAR 32431
POKE 23675,176
POKE 23676,126
The CLEAR command moves RAM-
TOP down to 32431 and the two
POKEs re-set UDG to
UDG - 1 76 + 256* 1 26 = 32432
That leaves 32768-32432= 336
10 CLEAR 64599
20 FOR I - 0 TO 767
30 POKE 64600+1, PEEK (15616+ [)
40 NEXT I
50 POKE 21606, 88
60 POKE 23607, 251
Table 7. A 48K Spectrum program io
move the character table above RAM.
TOP and re-set ihc CHARS ayitem vari-
able id point to the new table. For use on
a 1«K machine, alieT the folJ«win K lines:
10 CLEAR 31831
60 POKE 23607, 123
Letter
Lower-case codes
Upper-case codes
Alpha
0
0
0
56
72
72
60
0
0
16
40
68
124
68
68
0
Beta
0
J12
72
112
72
112
64
64
0
130
68
120
68
68
120
0
dartmia
0
0
72
48
32
32
32
0
0
124
68
64
64
64
64
0
Delta
48
64
32
48
72
72
48
0
0
64
96
80
72
68
124
0
Epailon
□
0
^6
64
48
64
56
0
0
124
64
120
64
64
124
0
Zeta
B
56
32
64
64
112
8
48
0
124
8
16
32
64
124
0
Eta
0
0
0
112
72
72
72
8
0
68
68
124
68
68
68
0
Thrta
0
48
72
120
72
72
48
0
0
56
68
124
68
68
56
0
0
32
0
32
32
32
48
0
0
56
16
16
]6
14
56
0
Kappa
0
0
72
go
96
80
72
0
0
72
80
96
80
72
68
0
Lamda
0
64
32
16
16
40
72
0
0
64
96
80
72
68
68
0
Mu
0
0
0
72
72
80
32
0
0
68
108
84
68
68
68
0
0
0
0
72
72
SO
32
0
0
68
100
84
76
68
68
0
Xi
0
56
64
112
64
LI2
8
48
0
124
0
56
0
0
1 24
0
Omicron
0
0
0
48
72
72
48
0
0
56
68
68
68
68
56
0
Pi
0
0
0
248
80
80
80
0
0
252
72
72
72
72
72
0
Rho
0
0
0
48
72
112
64
64
0
120
68
120
64
64
0
Sigma
0
0
0
60
72
72
48
0
0
124
\2
16
16
32
124
0
TlTJ
0
0
u
120
32
32
32
0
0
124
16
16
16
16
16
0
Upsilon
0
0
0
72
72
72
48
0
0
68
40
L*
16
16
16
0
Phj
Lti
16
56
84
84
56
■ 6
16
16
56
84
84
84
84
56
16
Chi
0
0
68
40
16
40
68
0
0
63
40
16
16
40
68
0
0
0
16
84
B4
56
16
16
0
84
84
84
56
16
16
0
Omega
0
0
0
0
M
84
40
0
0
56
68
68
68
40
108
0
Table 6. Eight-byte codex for forming lower- and upper-case Greek characters.
bytes between the address pointed to by
UDG and the top of RAM, which is
sufficient space for two tables each 168
bytes long.
The user-defined graphics facility is
flexible enough for most purposes, de-
spite the limitation to 21 characters per
set, but the user should also be aware of
the technique for re-defining the ordi-
nary character set. A number of the
programs on the market for the Spec-
trum make use of that facility, because
it gives the program more style, includ-
ing Star Trek by Silversoft, Time gate
by Quicksilva and 3D Space Wars by
— yes, you guessed it — Hewson Con-
sultants.
There are 96 characters in the ordi-
nary Spectrum character set. The set
starts with character code 32 — the
space or blank character — and ends
with the copyright symbol — code 127.
They are defined in an analogous fash-
ion to the user-defined characters by a
table which is held in ROM at address
15616, Each definition is held in eight
bytes and so the table is 768 bytes long.
The address of the beginning of the
table is 256 more than the value held in
the CHARS system variable which is
located at 23606 and 23607. Bearing in
mind that the code of the first character
in the table is 32 it can be seen that the
address of the first of the eight bytes
defining a given character is PEEK
23606 + 256 *PEEK 23607 + 8 ♦charac-
ter code.
Creating a new characier sl-[ from
scratch is a complicated task because the
shape of each letter or digit must be
worked out in detail The best tech-
nique is probably to move RAMTOP
down by 768 bytes, copy the entire
Sinclair character table into the area
above RAMTOP, and then re-set
CHARS to point to the new area. That
is the function of the program in table
seven. New characters can then be cre-
ated as modifications of the Sinclair
originals.
138
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
ORDER FORM
For advertisement appearing on page number 14 & 15
I enc lo&e cheque* PO (or £
or charge my Access/ Bare I aye a rd account number
I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Please add SOp to totar order
t 6, Shire Hill Industrial Estate
ron Walden, Essex CB? 1 3 AO.
le; (0799] 26150 {24 hrs| 5 lines
30 SPACE WARS
f»i and iunout "action. Jpy*!ick or Key-
board control Locate th* Se.odab on you.r
nlaiy itanntr Scour the sl»r studded
black nwi for your iifitii«rii pf the enemy.
Track their course and react rapidly 35
they Vy 10 b^ak aw*y L,eI them B r ** in
ygpi tighu and purvth the Fir* button »
1I"*y corn* m'a range
lftK or 4fiK. Spectrum.
r n :
The Setddarb have broken through the
6irf i defenses and are attacking the
trtiei. Vnu imp oatrolUng the city streets
: a» the latest Knar. Tank with its surlacr to
aartmsKln
Tnmdlinti along you obse-rye lh* teli
till Pips at Ihe S**ddab as tney appeal on
ynui Manner. They bnik formation «nd
Hatter across the city. Suddenly you
ctrtri JJrJht o> in ehen craft iMWopMr^
(rut* jrie burlijirrtp to your right, Ha fire*
a plasma tp+pedo it yOur tank. Vcu
■Himpi to dodge but the misstk hndi its
mark., shaking yo--i tank and lEtuing a
halt m ihe armour
Yoo unleash a rrwful* aind fluid* it
■cnirateiy to the larger. The Seiddab
txpVtdes and trashes from ughl. You
f'lttrjch am *he control* once more,
jh> this ii only trie beginning . . .
This yame incorporates moving 3D rjrf*p*ti>c5
of city buildirm* and alie-n craft It «*tt
progressively harder wrath two types of
landscape. 3 lives, h^rjh sec a, player r>ne
ind pljiyrr lvyp Krjrc
We era- on the luokaui 'or hnih quality
limulaliOTiE for all Che popular hpmn
computers. Top royahi« paid. Send .n
your lampiei today for fait evaluation
and prpmpt rnply
Sakrtted Hewicwi Consultants software
available through John Merws, Ian
branches, of Boots, all In^ding m»<
corrtputflr rqtjileri enrj sottwarv stockists
If you have any difficulty obtaining that*
product! locally, 'hen mat I order to
HEWSON CONSULTANTS LTD.. 60A,
ST. MAR Y^S STREET, WALliNGFORD.
OXON OX1QOEL.
Ready,
Set, Draw!
•**•**•**••****•***••***•« aa**************************** No* witri Pfletboune' Draw you can create
t t
■ **I**I44 4 ********
!*•>#* «**B**B-B***B--*
• *4*44*44**44***a«
***** ************
<»>»<<tl t« ttilMlttMllltM
*•*••*»**••* * a**4 «*a** 44* ****4 •.#*** 4
#■>#••***•••»»• •••*<*••••****•* B***B ■ *
B**«******«****a4***BB.
lilttllltllllttlllftltllfttlltttllfltll
i * * * * * * * * » ■ * * 4 • • * 4 • * * i* • ip ■ ■ p ■ ■ v « « p * m p p p p « « bb*****~«* * * * 4 4
tlttlltlttn t •tiiiiiiitiiittlllliitiiiiiifiift
i(iiiiiiiiiitittttiM<tii)tiftiriiiit*itiiiitttii b • • • b b «
tiiiifiMttttitttiitttiiiiifttitiittiitttfttiiittitiiiii
»■■*•*##»•*#*•••>•##**■■■«•#* ■*•♦•■■•♦##»■*#•»■# tp
4******4*******44**********P4***BfJ ****B****»**
tlt*tll«**l llt*l llttti|fl*tt4t*tl«««*tl<«*>ltf
*** + ***4*«va**BBP****aa*****4***44****
»lfft»tltt»tfllltl*i»liitttif*tflttlt»«*ttllti4
~ * 4 * • » * 4 ***>44*********4***«4****B***aaaaa^
h**»*«*»****44**4**4***«P B *J
Itlllftltt t * * 1
f *> * • • C .
■ *J**>4****4****4
I ■ « • • ■ ■ * • •■ *****
•■•■••a** * * a * • • • * * * * * * a *•*"*"»"*« * * *~* * *
***************** ■ a*****#***#**»**4##* mm mm
***44**4 a4*a*44*»aa****|****44*****4****4*j
.»_•_•_■•_• *****• + *****#*•■■■••■■»•*■ i
44* ***44***4 + *** ■ ••■■■*****a*4*
44«4444*444«444**444«J«***B444
444*4444444*** ** ■ ■ * m
*#*»*J****4******444ri
• 44*
-44-
I • * * 4 * • 4 4 4 * *
*•*« *•»****•*
4**44**4 4 4*4*444**444*
******* 4 «••*» * 4*44 ■ * * * * 4 4 * * * * 4 4 4 4 4
*•••*••••******«*••••*•«*•
* •****••* **••* •**•• * a B B • • *,
** **•#•*•* ■ ****** **** * * 4 4 * * * 4
• ••••**•**•*■■*••»■*»»* 4 44***4 *44*J1
14* B ******** ***B*4BB*4 * * 4 4 ***** 4 * * *
*••**•*•****••* ■•••• •* 4 44*1
■ * * * ****•*•*••••*** *••■■•**
• *****■■>••■
• •* + •*•
• »•*••• I
• ••*#*•*•* ■ »**•■*•*
• *• 4 *•••***•***••
h***«****V4* p*»»pp
» » ■ ■•••■•*****4**4*44**«**
******** a **************4* * _
i****************************
>••**•******••« ■ 4 •••• ■* * 4*
P**«**»****44444444444444
!*•***>*>«•* ************4* * *
4****4«**#>P*****4****44* • • *J
L 4****4***44**»*****»pp4***4^
i a*4**4 4***»4**»»aa«****
***a«aaa** 4 444**»44«* m m m
*.****** ■ ■ * • ■■ + *•*** + ***■
4***444**>4*a***4***** 4
*#*444**4 *•••■■>•••**
P**B4*****4****vp**«fla
• _•_* # * * » » • • **t**44** ■ ■ t
. m m
■ • * * » I
mm mm m m
• * * * a .
* *
4 4
1 a
a a
pictures on your Spectrum
special programrmfi sJulfcs
Just to* what you can da
• Create more ©citing graphics •and
character in your own programs
• Reduce or enlarge images to any
• Add special effects and depth to
your game backgrounds
• Enlarge sections of the screen
display up to sixteen times tor
intricate detailing, then reduce
them back to thee original size.
• Create personalised titles and
lettering anywhere on the screen in
any direction — eren backwards or
upside down,
• Control and alter the colours of
your Spectrum at will
• Store all your graphics on to
cassette.
• Easily create and define UDG
(User Defined Graphics) characters
— you can ewn store your custom
UDG areas on cassette,
Ydu can use Melbourne Draw to
explore all artistic possibilities
offered by the exerting new creative
medium of computer graphics, and
create any illustration or picture you
want
SPECTRUM Books
□ Un*ret*ndjng Your Spectrum MEW lilt ftttf E6 95
□ SpWdmm MtctiiBa) l * W |M P ay <t» AHmlute BtfifiMf Iff l|W NMCE ES 45
□ owTiwSfjKiMi mtimrvKtm
□ tin Coftipirii Scwdrur** PC* r>sjM«mbly , EJ95
Spectrum Htrdawi-Miriujl . EJ-.9S
:^mmJ*<TDdri'rtB{B* E5 95
_ SuflHtturp Your Soedruni Rtf
□ Ptetse send n« iom trr* ifl page cjlaiaf ue
4BK Spectrum Cassettes
□ Pfcneimor £6 95
□ TbcMMxt EU.9S
□ ItavlmUl , E6-95
□ to/toimbtm El $5
□ HJUJUL £1*35
n tttrwttFMt* , tUM
I enclose my cheque/ money order for £
Please debrt my Access Card No,
Expiry Data
Signature
Name
Address
Postcode
All prices include VAT
wrt$ft 3 ppl ir <\ blf
Pleas* add 80p
£ + p/p 80
Total
£
Melbourne House
Greemmch London SflQ
rnng. HajrttrjrJshii? \f7'i SLU
Trade enquiries
weicouif
AH Melbourne Hou« cassette
software *s uncondilKxiill^
tuaraiteed againsl
Acceu Drdefs can be
letoptioned thTOueh on
fO]j esa 7397 Fvl
GLOSSARY
Basic — Beginners* All-purpose
Symbolic Instruction Code. A pro-
gramming Language resembling
English which is used by beginners
because most popular microcom-
puters have it as standard.
Bug — an error in a program.
EPROM — Erasable Programmable
Read-Only Memory. Semi-
permanent storage. Information is not
erased if the power is turned otTin the
computer. Programs can be erased by
subjecting the memory chips to ultra-
violet light. The memory can then be
re- programmed using an electrical
device called an EPROM blower.
Interface — RS232 and Centronics.
A device w r hich enables other com-
puters or add-ons, such as printers, to
be connected to the computer. It con-
verts non-standard signals from add-
ons to the standard signals of the com-
puter in use.
Kilobyte — (K). A measurement of
memory size. Mosi machines use 16K
as a minimum but 48K is generally
agreed to be necessary for serious work.
Machine code — an electronic pulse
code used by the computer to perform
functions and communicate with
memory and other devices.
Mnemonics — abbreviated instruc-
tions — for example I D for Load —
used in machine language programm-
ing.
Motherboard — an external printed
circuit board which is used like a
multi-way plug planner. It enables
other printed circuit boards, such as
graphics boards and colour boards, to
be slotted-in r
Port — a link to the outside world
which can be used by programs and
the computer.
PCB — printed circuit board. A
board which has on it (he electronic
circuits of the computer.
RAM — Random Access Memory. In-
formation and programs can be stored
in this type of memory as electronic
pulses which conform to a set of
numbers — machine language — in
which programs are represented in the
computer. When the power is turned
off the information will be lost.
ROM — Read Only Memory, Infor-
mation stored in this type of memory is
not lost when the power is switched off.
Software — programs which control
the operation of the computer.
Syntax error — a bug caused by in-
correct use of a programming
language.
Our easy-to-follow guide for new owners
The basic route to a
habit-forming hobby
BUYING a Sinclair machine can be
the start of a life-time's obsession
with home computing. It is easy,
however, to become discouraged if
everything does not go according to
plan from the beginning.
For those with only a little knowledge
of computers and their capabilities, the
best way to approach the machines is to
abandon any ideas for special uses. While
the 48K Spectrum is big enough for
simple uses in small businesses, the range
of Sinclair computers does not contain
machines for major uses. It is better to
become accustomed to the many facilities
and then decide how you wish to use
them.
Begin by unpacking your machine,
overcoming your surprise at its size and
weight and, following the manual, set up
the system. If you cannot get the K on the
screen, check that everything is plugged
into its correct socket and re- set the
machine by pulling-oui the power plug
for one second and try tuning-in again. If
still nothing appears, check the power
supply unit by shaking it. If it rattles,
return it. If it is satisfactory, check your
system with that of a friend.
If you have a Spectrum you will have
received an introductory booklet which
explains what the computer can do and
giving detailed instructions on how to set
it up. Also included is a fault finding
guide.
Once the K appears you are ready to
begin learning about your machine. It
can prevent family arguments if you can
afford a separate television set for your
system. It also makes life easier if you
find somewhere to leave your equipment
set up permanently. You will find that a
few r power sockets are needed and a four-
way block connector on a short length of
extension cable will help to tidy trailing
leads.
When using a Spectrum, a television
set has to be more finely- tuned than when
using a ZX-81 because of the added
dimension of colour. If the set is not
tuned properly, the colours will look
hazy instead of sharp and clear. If no
colour can be seen when it is switched on,
the power supply or the television set
may be at fault.
Some users have experienced some
difficulty with some television sets,
which include Hitachi, Grundig and
Toshiba. Sets which many people have
found compatible include the Sony
Trinitron, Fidelity and Ferguson, Re-
cent changes in the ULA should make
more sets compatible.
The manuals are written in great detail
and are reasonably easy to follow. Some
of the chapters may not seem
immediately relevant but it is w orthwhile
reading them as you might miss
something important.
Patience is needed at that stage to learn
the ways in which the computer will
accept information. It is tempting to try
to enter programs before you are ready
but that is likely to lead to errors. For
example, words like AND, THEN and
AT should not be typed-in letter by
letter.
By the time you have reached chapter
1 1 in the ZX-8 1 manual and chapter 1 9 in
the Spectrum manual you should have
accumulated sufficient knowledge to be
continued on page 136
SINCLAFR USER January 1984
Starterpack J
continued from page 135
able to type-in other people's programs,
such as those in Sinclair User and Sinclair
Program s y without too much difficulty.
Ii is important when using the
ZX-S1 that it is not jolted. Some of the
connections can easily work loose and
everything which has been entered will
be lost.
Tht manuals are not to everyone's
liking and if you find them difficult to
follow a number of books on the market
can help you. Find the one which suits
you best.
As a way of relaxing you can buy some
of the growing range of commercially-
produced software. That can be loaded
directly from cassette but make sure that
your machine is big enough to take the
tapes you buy.
For the ZX-8 1 there are a few tapes for
the unexpanded IK machine but the
majority require the 16K RAM pack.
Similarly on the Spectrum most
companies are taking advantage of the
possibilities provided by the larger 48K
machine rather than providing cassettes
for the 16K.
The tapes can vary in quality and it is
advisable to read the reviews in Sinclair
User and use your judgment to find the
best.
An alternative method to learn about
both the ZX-8 1 and the Spectrum is to
plunge in at the deep end and see what the
machines will do. Refer to the manuals
when you have difficulties. You can
ignore the functions and calculations
initially and experiment with PRINT
statements to obtain the feel of the
machines.
You may already have heard about the
problem involved in SAVEing and
LOADing your own cassettes. The
manual gives detailed instructions but
many of the early ZX-8 Is would not
accept tapes from some recorders. That
problem is said to have been overcome
but there can still be difficulties-
Usually they occur when LOADing
tapes recorded by other people. One
simple method to overcome this is to
wind the tape to the middle of the
program and type LOAD i( " follow ed by
KEWLINE; then increase the volume of
the recorder slowly with the tape running
until the television screen shows four or
five thick black bands. If you then re*
wind the tape, the program should
LOAD normally.
LOADing and SAVEing on the
Spectrum is much easier and faster than
the ZX-81. One difference is that when
SAVEing on the Spectrum the LOAD
lead must be disconnected either at the
recorder or the Spectrum.
Finally, a health warning. Apart from
any practical uses* computing with
your Sinclair machine can be a very
entertaining hobby and is almost
certainly habit-forming. You may easily
find yourself crouched over your
machine, red-eyed, in the early hours of
the morning thinking that in another five
minutes you will solve the problem. Try
to break that habit by getting into the
fresh air and meeting other Sinclair
users.
By obtaining a Sinclair computer you
find that you have joined a not very
exclusive club with many thousands of
members, many of whom would be only
too happy to advise you if you have
difficulties.
Make sure of your regular copies of
Sinclair User and Sinclair Programs and
you can be guaranteed many happy hours.
CATCH ME
PLAY Catch-me
against the clock.
See if you can catch
the elusive £ } avoiding the
terrible +, using the cur-
sor keys. Catch -me was
written for the IK ZX-81
by Stephen Williams of
Swindon, Wilts.
—
ii
Lt1 A-^
1
1*0
IF INKEYi-"7"
AND P>0 THbN
2U
LET B-b
EH
LET F-1NT < RHD*t> >
LET A-fl-1
J&
LET G«2fc
IF F-l m\j L>8 THEN LET [>-t>
160
IF INkEYl-"b"
A NO 0O1 THEN
40
LET
-i
LET
B-a+i
tO
LET E-6
M
IF F-2 AND CX31 THEN LET L-
to
PRiNT AT Cj
U t " £ "
u+i
-o
PRINT AT A,
1 10
IF F-3 ANO tX2l THEN LET O
170
LET E-E+5
73
PRINT AT Lj
C+l
cut
74
IF C* : H nMD
fl*b THbN LET E-E
120
IF F-4 RNL> L>0 THEN LET L-L
im
Guru 60
08
-1
ma
INPUT F*
75
PRINT AT 0-
Oj "SCORE" t 1O0&-E
130
IF INKEY«- "V AND H>& THEN
220
GOTO 10
7fi
IF OR
n-b THEN GOTO 2S
LET 6
■fcl-1
240
PRINT AT t.fcj
"WELL DONE"
140
IF INKEY«- l, €;" AND A<21 THEN
245
STOP
70
IF n»L AND
S-D THEM GOTO 24
LET
A-A+l
sm
PRINT PJ b,£j
"GfiflE OVER"
144
SINCLAIR USER January 19H4
THIS PROGRAM is a gunfight reac-
tion game for two players. Key 0 tor
the right-hand gun and 1 for the left.
The fastest draw is awarded a point and the
scores continue to total.
Fighters for the IK ZX-81 was written by
Stephen Buckley of Upper Stoke, Coventry.
I REM F
£ LET S-0
3 LET W-0
4 LLS
5 LET N-iNT cRNLtflUjttja
10 PRINT RT 10, 1* "<fl«>" jflT Ui
ij"C9u<9t>"iRT ia, i>"taarifiT ia
l 1 J "9ui"
15 PRINT RT 10i30j "<9r >" JflT U
"< 94 ) " j RT 12, JO j 90> W ;RT
13,30, >"
£0 PRINT RT 14 j 13 J "REROY"
2S PROSE N
35 PRINT RT 15- 13j "SHOOT"
40 IF lNKEYf-CHR» iZQ> THEN Gu
TO 10(30
■50 IF 1NKE¥«-LHR*
(29) THEN GO TO
(50 GOTO 40
1000 LET
1001 PRINT nT 9*26JS>"l4lN"
1002 PRO'it 1UU
10&3 tQ TO 4
i?000 L£T W*W+1
£001 PRINT RT y,nw,"WlN"
2002 PRU'iE 1UU
3003 GOTO 4
10 PRINT
3 LL*
4 PRINT "O'sL KfcYbr 1 RNO 0 lU
HOVE "
1 1 PRU'-t HWi
l£ LET 3*0
14 FOR Y-l TO 3
lb LET T-l5
lfc LLO
17 LLT E-47
10 FOR X-T TO L
IS? PLOT X.O
20 Pfcflfl X,lb
£1 NEXT X
22 FUR F-Q TO it
£3 PLOT 15. F
24 PLOT 47, F
£5 NEXT F
2b LET R-iNT <RNl/*lb >+29
^7 LET B-l
2© LET R-ie
yB LET L-l
40 LET
47 Lfcl TR-^
4S LET TS-yi
■50 PLOT R,E
b2 PLOT T^TR
^b UNPLOT n,o
LET R-R+O
LET
IF tNKEV»-'l" THEN LLT T'i-l
70
7b
i-1
i i
»+l
7b
(30
yu
100
10t
= 1
107
110
ir INKEY*»"0" THt.N Ltl TS-T
UNPL01 Va-1,2
ONPLUT TS+i*2
IF THEN LET l_ — 1
IF THEN LE1 M*|
IF Ef-l THEN LET C-l
IF R*4fc THEN LET t«-l
IF R-T<i flND b-TR THEM LLT L
IF 8^TR 1 HEN LuTO 1*J*
IP THEN LET O-i
SINCLAIR USER >«u<jry 1984
)4S
P'IFjFjEWENGE
Choosing which game to buy from the mountain available is a difficult job,
especially when everyone claims to produce the best on the market. But how can
you tell the best from the rest?. To help you decide, read on. . . .
£0%
THE DUNGEON MASTER
Let your Spectrum be your guide in a totally new
dimension in adventures in the true spirit of
I ra dM i ofiairole playing games where YOU design
Hie scenario
"I have t>ee in a Dungeons and Dragons fan for
several years. . The package provides excellent
entertainment for all fans of the cults and should
prove a good introduction to the game",
...Sinclair User.
"Highly recommended for its versality. originality
ano Qua lily. Dehnately well worth obtaining".
. ZX Computing.
ZX Spectrum 48K £7,50
Written by Graham Siafford.
INVASION OF THE
BODY SNATCHAS!
At la si! a version as fast and (uncus and as
fru3Ufltina.lv sddiciive as the arcade original.
Landers, Mutants, Bombers. Pods. S warmers and
much much more combine to produce the
ultimate space game 1
ZX Spectrum 48 K
£6-50
Written by Simon Brattel and Neil Mottershead.
Please send SAE for our latest catalogue and
details of our forthcoming software
f.atalnni if FtJFP with Pu#»ru nrHur PAf
What the
real critics say. . . .
Very rarely have
software titles produced
such universal acclaim
as Hafts of the Things'
and The Dungeon
Master'. Now, with three
brand new programs,
Crystal continues to set
the standard of software
excellence. The
difference is obvious -
the choice is yours:
The Best or The Rest.
HALLS OF THE THINGS
A stunning multi-level maze "arcade - adventure"
"Excellent and dangerously addictive - could
change the Spectrum games scene
overnight' . . SJncialr User.
''Spectacular - One of the besi games I've seen
finely balanced between simplicity and
addictiveness ■ superb graphics and colour - I
CAN'T RECOMMEND IT HIGHLY ENOUGH".
.... Popular Computing Weekly
ZX Spectrum 48 K €7 .SO
Written by Neil Mottershead. Simon Brattel and
Martin Horsley-
THE ISLAND
The ultimate test of logic and deduction! Can you
solve the hidden mysteries of the South Pacific
Island on which you have been sUanded ■ and
escape alive! A brilliant classic style adventure
game to lacinale and frustrate you tor months'
ZX Spectr u m 48 K €7 50
Written by Martin H. Smith.
ROMMEL'S REVENGE
A brilliant interpretation of the moal visually
stunning arcade game of all time. Superb high
resolution 3D graphics with full perspective plus
a host of new and exciting features make
Rommel's Revenge I he most spectacular game
ever produced for your Spectrum!
ZX Spectrum 48 K £6,50
Written by Martin Horsley.
Please Supply;
Invasion ot the Body Snatches □
Rommel's Revenge Li The Island □
Halls ot the Things □ The Dungeon Master □
Catalogue i please enclose SAE 6in. a 9in.) □
I enclose cheque/PO for
NAME
ADDRESS
DEALERS? For details of our excellent
dealer discounts {including export)
ring Chris, Clarke on 061 -205 6803.
PROGRAMMERS! Written any good
software? send It to us tor evaluation and
details of our excellent royalty scheme.
Please add £0.50 per item for overseas orders-
Please make cheques/PC's payable to:
CRYSTAL COMPUTING
Dept SUi
2 ASHTON WAV
EAST HERRI NGTON
SUNDERLAND SR3 3RX
BREAK YOUR WAY out of prison by bouncing your buns oil
your tray and richocheiting them against the walls, which will
disintegrate gradually under attack. Bun Fight was written for
16K Spectrum by C J Howard of Stu<
i LET hi-6 BURDER 3 PAPER 7
IMC 0i LLS
k LET *h»l
3 CLS i C.U 'sUb 200 LLS
4 FOR f-(j TU 21 PRINT INK S
m f -a; »< i*p>"jflT f ,3irti*p r
NEXT f
■i INPUT "Skill 'A to a, I Hir
10 LET I- 1 ? LET *-t LET x-10
LET c-3
20 LET sc-0 LET »-l LET b-1
21 FDR f-4 TCJ 1 STEP -1 ■ FUR *
-L TO JO PRINT PRPER 7 J INK. fj
AT f+4,9 ( "<iiP)"' NEXT 9 NEWT f
25 LET t-PJTR tx^>-56' IF t<>
O THEN LET a-1 ■ LET *c-*e+3-t
23 PRINT AT 6),4j "Score*" JiC-"'H
i Score- M jhi
30 PRINT AT Hit i M o"
35 PRINT AT 21, C J" C94't1ttM«4
tivS>7> 11
40 FOR f-I TD 3*m< NEXT f
SO PRINT AT x,*J " "
60 LET x-x+* LET w-*+b
70 IF THEN LET A*l
60 IF *>*20 THEN GO SUO 120 1
LET a— 1
JQ IF ¥<-X THEN LET o-l
100 IF v>-^a THEN LET b— 1
103 PRINT AT 21, " "
105 LET c-c+C 1NKEY»-"P M ANO c<£
7>-< INKEV«- H l N ANE, c>0>
10fi LET er«c+C INKEY0-"P" AND c<2
- >-•. INKEV*-"I" RNG c ^ ■
107 LET c-c+r, 1NKEY«-"P" OHO
7 >-t INKEY*-" I " AN{.' e>B>
110 00 TU 2b
117 IF *cK30O*»b> THEN LET **
-*b+l^ LET l-l+t GU TU 21
120 FOR f-1 10 2 IF w-c+f THEN
RETURN
lifO NEXT f
140 PRINT RT El, c " " ' LET
n-lE+INT CRN&*5> LEI LET *
— it LET b-1' LET c-13 PRINT AT
15,3; h Mumo n ' FOR f-1 TU 150
NEXT Pi LET 1*1-1' IF l>0 THEN
PRINT RT 15 1 5 J " " 1 RETURN
150 PRINT AT 13*3 j "Cam* ovAr"'
PRINT " V to Mm ASAln" PAUSE
0
160 PAUSE Q 1 IF INKEY*-"*" uR I
Nif EY**"Y" THEN GO To 30O
170 B0490ER 6 80RL>ER 1 GO TO 1
7ti
200 PRINT t*
t*" ;RT i/9t-' H I Riaht" ,AT
7- ii "P L*ft ,r ;AT 10,2; 'Cap*
Shift . .EwtrA *P»*d." PAUSE 23
0> RETURN
JU0 IF »<r>-hi THEN LET hi-tc
310 UO To 2
Snake Charmer
ENTICE the snake towards its
missing link using the cursor
' keys. If you guide it accurately
the snake will absorb the missing link
and elongate.
Snake Charmer WtS written by
Darren Lee (14) of Sutton-on-Sea, Lines
St
i PRINT m l * 10;
uu SUb tow
Z DATA C«j 12t,255, ld3« l3&>233
« lit, 102
3 FOR f=& 1U 7 RLHb t PUKE
UsR H A"+f*t' NEXT f
4 LEI bp^S" ■ tJURUER l PnPER
7 LET C*0 CLS
5 LEI K«"10 LET y^lV LET
10 FOR f-10 TU 19' LET **-»*+"
1U"+'jTR# f ■ PRINT ORlGHT li INK
0.iR1 10,fj"4" HCKT f
20 CiU SOB 163
JO LET rt-lNKEYS- IF z*>'4<' AN
I- THLN LET b*-x*
40 LEI K"K + tb*-"t" Mt)H"7">'
LET w +< b»- " ft " 3NE b*- * 5 "' ?
43 IF ATTR t >-l2ti UR x*22 O
R «*$2 1HEN UU TU SOO
47 Uj SUtf 150
^0 LET c*-STRt IF k<10 THEN
LET ct-" " +STR* x
55 LET d»*STR* tfi IF ^<10 THEN
LET d*-" "+I3TR* *
t,u LEI m-1«=VRL Tu 2'" LLT v
1*VAL 3 TCI 4)' IT A1TR <Kl*^l
K>120 THEN GO TO £2
til PRINT AT Jtl^lJ M H
fcb PRINT 8R1LHT 1; INK OjNI j<
"a"
t7 DEEP .01ALEN a»^ 1 0 >-2B
70 LET *l*A*+c*+d>' IF C*0 THE
N LET «•***< 3 TO >
75 LET c-c-<c>0>
100 LU To ^O
150 LET r*«SGREENi tx^) 1 IF
OR F*<"1' 1 THEN RETURN
1£0 LET c-c+VflL fl
It..' BLEP ,01,0 BEEP ,01,10' BE
LP ,01,20
lei5 PRINT FLASH If BRtLtHl 1j P
APLIP 5; AT C RN0*22 ?—l * C RNOAJ2 )- 1 J
INT iRND*^3+l' RETORH
50U LET x*x-(x-2^>+<, >**-l >■ LET
393 PRINT AT x^, FLR^H
T 10, 5 J "SCORE - " >< LEN A*^4 '-10
516 FUR r-20 TO -50 iTEP • 0L
EP .02, f « NEXT f
5L;0 FUR f-l TO 200 NEK1 t
525 IF lNKEr*-" rt THEN TO 32
5
5J10 LLS 1 GU TO 4
bO0 PRINT ' " You h*ve to eAt th
* f lAAhitvj nurab«rft to #1
^ourAA-U ** " Mo
V* ij i 1 rr9 t:h< c urt ^jr ^ e '5
/C^7,S'"jRT 12j0j h Pre** *t»w if*
U to be-Jift,"'" if -^au *r* r*Ad4
fciOl PAOSE 4L4
fclO RETURN
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
H7
Trapping the errors will
ensure first-time running
THE FIRST error code encoun-
tered by most Sinclair users is
the flashing "S" on the ZX-81
or "P 1 " on the Spectrum, which indi-
cates a syntax error in a sentence. Ex-
perience and the manual soon show that
it is caused usually by typing-in a
keyword letter by letter, or by bad
punctuation, for example omitting a
semicolon or an inverted comma.
The most frequently-occurring error
code is "2" — variable not found. A
variable is a letter which has been given
a numeric value. When you enter
"LET a = 2" you are defining a vari-
able. Error code 2 results when the
computer reaches a variable in the pro-
gram to which you have so far given no
value.
Check the line which the computer
specifies. If it is your program, give a
value to the variable or remove it. If you
are copying the program, look back in
the listing to see which line you have
Although the majority of error codes
are explained adequately in the man-
uals, the report "B-lnteger out of
range" can be confusing. An integer is a
whole number — 1 is an integer, 1.5
and 1 1 are not. That code occurs most
frequently when you try to print some-
thing beyond the limits of the screen.
PRIN T AT 0,31; l V> is acceptable
and will print a letter "a" at the top
right of the screen. PRINT AT 0,32;
"a" would not be possible. The integer
32 would be out of range, resulting in
error code "B". That would also hap-
pen if the computer were instructed to
PRINT AT 0,31;"ab". It would still be
trying to print a character beyond the
limits of the screen.
That error is more difficult to detect
if variables have been used as co-ordin-
ates and your character, or series of
characters, is being printed in varying
positions. Ifthe instruction PRINT AT
0,x;* l a" produces report code B, ma In-
sure that the value of x never increases
beyond 31.
On the Spectrum "B-integer out of
range" is also often found when you are
FOKEing-in user defined graphics.
The biggest number which can be
POKEd-in this case is 255 or BIN
11111111. In that case the error code
will occur in the line containing the
POKE statement. In most cases,
though, the error will have occurred in
one of the DA TA lines in the program.
A very frequent error code produced
on the Spectrum is "E-Out Of Data 1 *.
That will occur in a line containing a
READ statement. The error code,
though, will have occurred in one of the
program DATA lines, which may be
nowhere near the READ line. A READ
command sends the computer to a
DATA line to collect the next piece of
DATA contained there. That is often
done using a FOR, NEXT loop, es-
pecially when graphics are being set up.
FOR n= 1 TO 8: READ n will send
the computer to the DATA lines eight
words such as LN or EXP as keywords.
On the ZX-81 especially it is easy to
forget that pressing 'V will produce
the word PL
Make sure that when the "is not
equal" sign, u < > n appears in a listing
you always enter it as one character and
not as "is less than", H <" followed by
"is greater than", ">'\
Technical problems can also cause
errors in programs. Any alteration to
the power supply can cause a program
to CRASH. In that case the screen
display may change dramatically and
using the keyboard will have no effect.
The only solution is to unplug your
computer and begin again, making sure
that your power supply and RAM pack
'The error need not be on the line which
produces the report; that is simply the line
where the computer meets the problem'
times, for eight separate pieces of infor-
mation. If there are only seven pieces of
DATA there it will return to the READ
line and produce the code OUT OF
DATA. When there are several DATA
lines they will all have to be checked,
because the piece of DATA you have
omitted was not necessarily the last.
In some cases the computer will fol-
low the program correctly, without pro-
ducing an error code, but from the
programmers point of view the pro-
gram contains an error. In that case
BREAK into the program at the mo-
ment it goes wrong. That will produce
report code 9 and the line on which you
have STOPped the program. That
method makes it easy to locate the area
of the program which contains the er-
ror.
Programs which you copy from mag-
azines, books or from friends can be
difficult to error-trap because they con-
tain programming techniques which
you have not yet learned, or simply
because it is often difficult to follow
another programmer's logic.
The flashing "S" or *'?" indicating a
syntax error may appear frequently. In
that case check carefully what you have
copied. You may not have recognised
are both connected firmly. That error is
caused by the computer and not by the
program.
Sometimes a program listing in a
book or magazine will contain what
seems to be a very obvious error. If it
contains key words or symbols which
are not on your computer, check that it
is intended for your machine. Programs
for the Spectrum, the. ZX-81 and the
ZX-80 are not usually directly inter-
changeable. If a program contains the
command GOTO or GOSUB — a non-
existent line number — the computer
will simply go to the next numbered
line after that one. That is a sign that a
program has been developed and im-
proved and is rarely an error.
When you have errors \n a program,
first check the report codes listed in
Appendix B of the manual. It may then
be necessary to read the appropn ik
section of the manual. Remember 'h.n
the error is not necessarily on the line
which produces the report code; that is
simply the line where the computer
meets the problem for the first time.
Always check carefully every line
connected with the line containing rbe
error code and the mistake should be
easy to locate.
L4H
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
CaAWLERforanyZXSpectilun 0nly*4.8£
An addicsr?e chase game needing both reactor, and
strategy. In last machine code for arcade action,
You are Craw -er andyour aim m Life ls to hunt down and
devour as nany bugs asyou car.. Every umeyou catch one
you grew longer, so that y ou soon hare to avoid biting
jwraelf TSu itiQW bugs y o'-«at. the more difficult it
beraras You can choose between 9 skill iesela.
JACKPOT for the 48K Spectrum OaljrM.&B
A complete simulation of a popu:arfru:t machine. using
definable graphics to the fullest. It contains a comp lets
introduction 10 the roles of ttt H0L2. NUDGE. GAMBLE and
FEATURE SOX with animated demo Memory mapped reels,
simultaneous revolution, staggered stop, animates bet and
payout, payout board and realistic sound-effects recreate the
original A must and a wallet saver for any fruit machine
buff
=
Mind Games
Expanding the horizons
of adventure games
Quentin Heath explores the new possibilities
offered by the Microdrive and Interface One
INTRODUCTION of the Micro-
drive and Interface One has pro-
duced an interesting problem for all
software houses. What can be done with
this new peripheral?
There are few people yet with Micro-
drives but i he problem will increase as
sales of the device produce more users.
There are several applications in the
mind games field., some of which 1 want
[0 discuss this month.
The .adventure game market can
benefit from the Microdrive. Games
will become mure complex us some of
the restrictions of the 4SK and 16K
memory are nullified. It will be possible
to create a graphics adventure which
will make The Hobbit seem crude.
Every location in a game could be de-
picted with screen strings and they
could be stored in a central database on
which the main program could draw.
Using the screen string, SCREENS,
option the memory storing the main
program w r ould not be affected and Httle
memory would be needed to store pic-
tures. At present, storage space for pic-
tures is one of the main problems in
graphics adventures such as The Hob-
bit or Valhalla.
The other aspect of adventure pro-
grams which makes the Microdrive an
ideal device is the response and inter-
pretation databases which permit user
and computer to communicate with
each other in the language of the adven-
ture. The limited memory capacity
available means lhat few responses 10
situations can be enclosed. As a result,
players often will spend some time look-
ing for the appropriate word or phrase.
There will be no excuse w r ith the
Microdrive. It should be possible to
store a symbol or phrase table inside the
computer and load different sets of
phrases from Microdrive into the same
space. The benefit of a bigger response
database in the program, paged-in when
needed, will outweigh the increase in
time it takes to obtain an answer from
the program.
Unfortunately one of the areas in
which the Microdrive will not be able to
help is with graphics adventures which
use little text and rely on the user
moving round a map which has been
put on to the screen. It would be poss-
ible to extend the number of locations
in such an adventure by switching- in
new data for every new location or
switching parts of program in and out of
memory using the Microdrive. The
problem is that graphics adventures do
not rely on data tables as much as the
text adventures. Most parts of the pro-
gram relate to other parts and cannot be
split into blocks to be switched-in from
Microdrive.
The Microdrive w ill also be of use to
programmers who want to produce
games such as chess, Othello or even
Noughts and Crosses. All those
games use data structures which are
called tables. Those structures are built
during a game and, depending on the
level of play the computer is using, the
trees will be long or short*
Usually the size of the database of the
weightings of moves will indicate, to
some extent, how good the computer is
at playing the game. It will use that
structure to see what potential moves it
has and to point-out possible win situa-
tions. That is true of most so-called
artificially-intelligent games.
As with all the other items discussed,
the size of the database is restricted by
memory availability. For that reason
corners are cut and new algorithms —
methods of solving a problem — have
been created. Now tree structures could
be made longer and switched in and out
of memory when they are needed for
reference. That means the computer has
more chance of becoming artificially
intelligent and beating anything you
warn io pit against it. It will have all
yours and its old games to rely on.
One fly in the ointment is thai Micro-
drive cartridges are in short supply.
That should not prove to be a difficulty
as the programs do not need to be sold
on Microdrive cartridge. The program
and its data can be sold on cassette,
which can then be put on to a user's
Microdrive cartridge. Security of the
tape files may be endangered to some
extent but there would be the same risk
with anything sent out on cassette.
Interface One, the device which ana-
ches the Microdrive to the computer, is
possibly more exciting than the Micro-
drive in its possibilities for adventure
writers and players. Using the network
you will be able to hook one Spectrum
to another and send information be-
tween them. That means you could play
multi-player adventure games or chess
using two or more Spectrums,
With adventure games you could
have several players moving round dif-
ferent locations while the computer
moves its characters and makes them
live. That would be like a super version
of The Hobbit. The main difficulty is
trying to give the impression that moves
can be made by different players at the
same time.
Obviously, because of the speed of
the network, there will be a delay before
inputs can be interpreted and responses
from the computer sent out; if we break
down each action and share the total
time available with the number of play-
ers on-line, it should be possible to have
a system working.
For instance, the program could ac-
cept a command from one user, decode
a command from a second user and send
a message to a third user in one set
cycle. It could then process the first,
send the second and decode a command
sent by the third. That would happen
all the time and is called time-sharing. It
is a job which only bigger micros and
mainframe computers have done until
now. The Spectrum can do it, but
slowly.
The Microdrive and Interface One
are likely to be important in the devel-
opment of the mind games market. If
you have any other ideas on the subject
I would like to hear from you.
Next momh I will be delving into the
depths of Valhalla, which looks like
being another Hobbit.
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
ISJ
fgHE srrOR^ so far..,
Ik
POT 5 0ME
JN CO**POTMslG / i N
iqftJ tm£V wcrc the;
FlAiT To PitT FftEE
IN THtV W£fl£
the FffUT w***
IT WAV cnM^C Vrt-iP
ONCE UFOH A TIME f KHp
A. MI^ERABLt T iHt 'TWKS) ,
OBSTRUCTIVE AMP
l_*T* OHC WOHT THE flMAN **
&l*tOftft£D A VIMTPR FROM
THE CnVTAAtT CAUUY
ATTmi vwy
Pf MANIACS
ALL OVER THE
VU<3HLp AAtC
KEAL ±60&O
£*}l*>£H &t*W*L
«M4N has
BEU>M£ A
CULT-
THE CRiTiCfi &0 W»Lt>/
FtMANIA IS HAILED AS Ajri^r MO«*ft Minor.
3^AT frtxfehtt TUPkTk
I STOPPING PpS. 1 ,
0
^E G»OT A. &i<f
// /A to£o-STtf"-K, Af
WELL THAT"^
iH iT ft TN
mow to Bcnucvc
MOftElC 5o THAT 1 OKi
fcu LATE 1 the,
^AT5 &U.EBS
&CA2C LM, LMCff
■WH BftwiK Ia>*Ll
'lU^-!^
i*_oyr toft
, TRtAtMEtiCwi
7
OONY J-JfT5
E^fcFt TVfexJ&rt THE
t ^>T To TttE Kl^KT Sc*tE«.
WERE ARE ScetEl^
ALTOGETHER St fbR£ HE ft FR£t
~fetJ Cli>4&inG WWE^v CLAMPS^
so what a AUTOMATA cot in
THE WAY Of CLAWlC EMTERTAlH -
ME NT ? HOW A&OUT THE
DIFinitiveV VEk^iom ufTHATj
&OAR.0
CAM£^
r *AVfek VJE WT UVt ^£
lNO\S£ m<. HofiNlAA^, Ms. 1
IMJwHtt \nE cAh'T GpeTrtlM
»N TUt U(^Ti ^ BuT WE Cf#si
Loom' t cwIe mdwT ki?
AMD IF lOUC^T
HOMAfii TO
PLAY AGAINST,
WE TjAfcL you
to Puw fovjk-
□ □
[
>1tp5 Players
MOVING Btj*wi
pliflAY US AVE - CAME FACILITY,
* State of Plat at the tooch a
6UTTOAJ #YOuA COMPOTE A AS x Mo«E
banker* QO TO TAIL /
154
sincmir user ypumy tm
STPfTf SO rpRTMC^l
AUTOMATA
&>r wold
,TWJS fSG? F**! fiNivdf* EwS A
HAVWC LOST AT 'c;o TO JAIL-
TO TMElfc COHPOTtR, TWE
Pi MAN \ A fAl To THE
A Art i5*rt* sTCtfP-
'THEM NWiT M IFF
lTWL>l*AA*HA'
Follow- of
("£fT T»4£M /
THt O S. A —
MVKt IrtS THING* 60 f ^STtR 1 A * V« ■ » V »
I'D LiKt To St£ sou Do
BtTttl? , £A0 ' isfX Los
*NT> COMPASS,
BAG t>e
SINCLAIR USER January J984
155
MICRODRIVE!
OK. FOR ALL
for.
Spectrum
B or ZX81
PROGRAMMABLE INTERFACE
Ihe ACK Programmable Joystick Interface is
a unique design offering the use of any At in-
compatible joysiick with absolutely s.ih
ware, whether il is cassette i>r ROM i nrl-
ridge, with the Sinclair Spectrum or ZX8I.
The hardware programmable interface re-
quires no additional software and accurately
replicates the keys of the computer in a
manner which is responsive to absolutely
ALL key reading methods, berth BASIC and
Machine Code.
[he interface Joe?, not interfere with key-
operation and can therefore be used simul-
taneously with the keyboard.
There is no need to remove I he interface once
Tilted as the rear extension connector will
accommodate further expansion, i:e printers
or RAM packs etc. Ibis important feature
avoids excessive wear to the expansion port.
The key replication principle pioneered by
AGF means that your own programs can use
eight directional >oystick movement by
utilising simple key reading BASIC
Two joystick sockets are provided which
share the same keys, for use with l he
majority of two player games. Several inter-
faces may be used on the same computer for
multiple joystick applications.
The interface is programmed by a two digit
code,, which is looked up on a programming
chart supplied, for each direction and firing
button. The two numbers are then selected
un ;i pair of leads which are clipped onto
appropriately numbered strips on I he inter- #
face.
Once configured this can he marked on :i *
Quick Reference Programming Card for
storing with the game. As the programming *
is not power dependent the interface retains
the last configuration made and can be
immediately used when next switched on.
PLEASE ALLOW 28 DAYS FOR DELIVERY
PACKAGE CONTENTS SUPPLIED
• Frog ram ma bk Interface Module as illus-
trated, complete with clip- on program
ming leads.
• Self adhesive progiamnniifi; churt detailing
how to define which key is simulated by
UF\ DOWN, LEFT, K 1(111 T, and HK|-\
This can be fixed on to Ihe case of your
computer or if preferred the protective
hacking can be left on. The chart is made
of a very durable reverse printed plastic
and is extremely easy to read.
• One pack of ten Quick Reference Pro-
gramming Cards for at a glance setting
to your games requirements. Ihe card
allows you to mark Ihe configuration in
an easy to read fashion with space to
record the software title and company
name.
• Video Graffiti demonstration program
which is written totally in BASU to lltta-
trate how all eight directions and fire
can be read. This is also a useful high
resolution drawing program,
• 12 months guarantee and Ml writlen
instructions.
JOYSTICKS
E3-
KEY FEATURES
1 CONTROLLERS
TOTAL soft-
Programmable design gives
ware support.
Auuepls Atari, Competition Pro, Wico,
Starfighter, Quick Shot, Le Stick etc.
Hear extension connector for alt other
add-ons.
bree demo program and instructions.
FOk USE WITH OUR INTERFACE
Module or VIC 20, Commodore 64 T
Atari VrS, Atari 400, Atari 800
If you require extra Joysticks for our
original interface module mark order
•OLir Joysticks
ONLY £7 54 Lnc VAT + P&P
ALL ORDERS CONFIRMED
FROM: MR/MRS/MISS
ADDRESS
SEND C.W.O. (NO STAMP NEEDED) TO; A.G.F. HARDWARE, DEPT.SU
FREEPOST, B0GN0R REGIS, WEST SUSSEX, P022 9BR
QTY
ITEM
ITEM PRICE
rot AL
PROGRAMMABLE INTERFACE
33.95
JOYSTICK(S)
7.54
PACKIS) QUICK REFERENCE CARDS
100
ONE
VIDEO GRAFFITI
FREE
ZX81 □ ZX SPECTRUM □ Please tick
FINAL TOTAL
DEA LER ENQUIRIES WEL COME K X Pi >R r f'X K ES £>,\ A FFLiCA TION
156
SINCLAIR USER January m4
E COMPATIBILITY
SSUE SPECTRUMS
for
ectrum
or ZX81
JOYSTICK INTERFACE
Tlte Interface Module II has heen specially
designed to plug on to the rear connector
of your ZX "Spectrum or ZXAl and allow
you to connect any standard Atari type
digital Joysticks, All of the computer's
connection* are duplicated on an extension
Connector so that you can still use any other
devices intended Tor use with your computer.
The Interface Module H resides in the same
memory space as the keyboard, which re-
main* fully functional at all limes, therefore
It will not interfere with anything else
connected.
When a suitable joystick is plugged into
'Player I" socket its action will mimic pres-
sing the cursor keys, up "7" r left "5'* and so
on. The firing button will simulate key <f>.
lUk unique feature guarantees the best soft-
ware support.
Tike a look at the selection of compatible
pmes we have listed. More are being added
all the time as a result of our contact with
the various software companies.
A iecond Joystick may be connected in the
'Player 2" position which simulates in a para-
lei fashion keys T-Y-U-l-P. This will allow
you to play a whole new generation of two
player games.
KEY FEATURES
* Proven cursor key simulation fur
maximum software support
* Accepts Atari, Competition Pro, Wico*
Sttrfightcr, Le Stick, etc Joysticks
* Second Joystick facility
* Rear extension connector for aJJ other
add-ons
AGF COMPATIBLE SOFTWARE -
AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE
The following titles are available from us:
Galactic Jailbreaky - Apocolypse
Snake Software £4.9 S
3D Tanx : DK "Tronics £4.95
Splat ! J Incentive
Software Ltd £5.50
Hheenix ! Megadodo
Software £S.S0
Escape ! New Generation
Software £4,9 S
3D Tunnel : " M £5.9S
Knot in 3D i " ,+ £5.95
Cyber Rats : Silversoft £5 95
COMPATIBILITY CASSETTES £4.95
] hese cassettes have short programs to
load before the chosen game which will
convert it to use the cursor keys and there-
fore become compatible with the Interface
Module II.
Cassette 2 converts
Centipede
Planetoids
Jet-Pac
t Pssst
T 3D Combat Zone
+ Invaders
Cassette 1
Arcadia
Schizoids
Hungry Horace
Horace Goes Skiing
Spectres
Penetrator
+ Will require 48 K Memory
FROM: MR/MRS/MISS
ADDRESS
SEND GW.O. (NO STAMP NbbOED, TO: A.G.F. HARDWARE, DEPT.SU
FREEPOST, B0GN0R REGIS, WEST SUSSEX, P022 9GB
QTY
ITEM
INTERFACE MODULE II
JOYSTICK(S)
SOFTWARE:
SOFTWARE:
ZX81 □
ZX SPECTRUM □ Please tick
ITEM PRICE
16 95
7.54
FINAL TOTAL
TOTAL
t xt'QRt win s \rrtiCAno.\
Aitaby Computer Centre
1B6 Ashby High Street, Scunthorpe,
St Humberside ON I 6 2JR
Brainwave Microcomputers
24 Crown Street, Ipswich, Suffolk IP I 3
Buffer Micro Ltd
310 Streatham High Koad, London SWl
Chelsea Micros Ltd
14 Jerdan Place, London HW6 I BH
Computers of Wigmore Street
hi Wigmore Street, London WlH 9 1 A
Everybody's Hobbies
I Great Colman Street, Ipswich,
Suffolk IP4 2AA
WHERE TO BUY AGF PRODUCTS OVER THE COU
4 Mat Computing
67 Friargate, Preston, Lancashire PR L 2 AT
Gainer
24 Gloucester Road. Brighton BN 1 4AQ
LD GB MicroUfid
7 Queens Parade, London Road,
6 Waterloo villi;, Man Is
Metgray Hi-Tech Ltd
49 Broad Street, Hereford HR4 9AK
Micro Fare
296 Gloucester Road, Horfield, Bristol
Raven Video
74 Green Lane, Tuttenhyll, WoLverliamptun
Screen Scene
144 St George's Road, Cheltenham
V I I R
Screens
6 Main Avenue, Moor Park, Northwood
Middlesex,
Syntax Computers
76 Cornwall Street, Plymouth PLi INS
TeLeco Video
53 Maple Road, Pengc, London SE20
Telford Electronics &. Computing
26a Bradford Street, Shtpnal,
Shropshire TFll 8AU
The Computer Shop
Unit 2 5, Handy side Arcade, Percy Street,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne M l 4PZ
The Computer Centre (Humberside) Ltd
26 Anlaby Road, Hull HU1 2 PA
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
157
ABSOLUTELY GUARANTEED ABLE 1 u
Superchess 3.0 has been developed to bring you the strongest chess program yet for
the Spectrum computer.
At the tournament level Superchess 3.0 has a look-ahead of five to seven ply
(moves) in the middle game, and ten to twelve ply in the end game. This gives
Superchess 3.0 a substantial advantage against other chess programs and
promises the experienced player an interesting and challenging game of chess. .
Unlike other chess programs, Superchess 3.0 is not just a brute-force calculator,
but employs artificial intelligence techniques to allow deeper searching along the
main lines of play.
FEATURES:
• 10 levels— all play wilhin lournamenl time
limits
• First ievet made especially easy for beginners.
• Easy 10 use— help menus provided.
• Recommended move ophon.
• Cftange sides and level during game.
• Sell play mode
■ Sel upJchange position.
• Technical information— how the program
■thinks'
48 K SPECTRUM— Price £8.95
Programs internal score (or position
displayed.
Number of evaluated positions displayed
Library of opening moves-
$«lecl your own colour scheme for
graphic board display,
Solve mating problems— up to mate in four
mat
m Li
U 1
r
SUPERCHESS 3.0
FRIENDS FOR THE PURPlw
■"■RSSKtHOUT GETTING IN —
Dealing— the program snuff les, deals and sorts the cards to produce randomly dealt
hands. An almost infinite number of hands are therefore possible, with all kinds of
distributions.
Bidding— is in the familiar ACOL system, including Stayman and Blackwood
conventions. You bid your hand while the Spectrum bids the other three hands.
Card Play— you play from your own and dummy's hands, which are displayed as
they would be at the bridge table, with the program playing the other two hands
Scoring— at the end of each hand the score is calculated, including honours, slam
and rubber points. Both the old and new scores are displayed in the usual manner
Replay— at the end of each hand, all four hands can be displayed and, if desired, the
hand replayed
48K SPECTRUM BRIDGE PLAYER— £8.95
An ideal complement to the Bridge Player Program:
Bridge Tutor {Beginners)— £5 95
Bridge Tulor (Advanced)— £5.95
SPECIAL OFFER: Bridge Player and both Bridge Tutors— £18.95
Plus for 48K Spectrum unless otherwise
stated:
PLUS for 48K Spectrum:
FLOATING POINT FORTH with EDITOR
INTEGER FORTH
SUPERCHESS II
SUPERCHESS I (16K2X81)
16K SUPERCHESS (16K Spectrum)
£6.95
REVERSI
£6.95
DRAUGHTS
£5,95
£13,95
BACKGAMMON
£5.95
£9.95
SNAIL LOGO (Turtle Graphics)
£9.95
£7.95
£4,95
GOLFING WORLD
£5,95
— ^
Spectrum Programs
The ten additional BASIC commands provided by Spectrum Extended Basic are considered an essential aid for
most programming applications, so much so that many of these commands are standard features on other Basics.
The program is compact, occupying less than 5K memory, is user friendly— requiring only a two key
entry —and incorporates syntax checking.
The program commands are used and entered just like normal Basic keywords, the program operates by
trapping your usual keyboard input and testing for any of the ten additional commands.
The extra commands available are:
AUTO
CLOCK
DELETE
EXAMINE
* FIND
auto line number, start and
interval definable,
ON/OFF 12 hour clock, displayed
on screen,
Basic line/block delete,
reads tape headers and displays
information.
find specified string In
Basic program.
MEMORY displays memory status.
RENUMBER full line renumber with GOSUBs
and GOTOs
SCROLL ONNDFF continuous scrolling.
TRACE ON/OFF slows program
execution, displays line and
statement currently executed.
VARIABLES displays variable names and
contents.
48 K Spectrum Extended Basic— £9.95
^riRK and 48K Spectrum
This is a superior machine code tool kit with one hundred machine code routines that are relocatable for use in
your own BASIC and tor machine code programs, the combined user friendly BASIC program, 48k Spectrum only,
gives easy access to all routines: • Index of routines. • Call up details of each routine including all information
required to tailor the routine to your needs. » Demonstration of how the routine works under software control,
the demonstration is repeatable • Save and verify individual routines. • Comprehensive user guide.
1
2.
3.
4
5
&
7
S.
9.
10
11.
12.
13.
14.
15,
16
17.
Slock Memory Insert
18.
Star Draw
35.
Block Copy
52,
Confuse
Block Line Delete
19.
Flash Switch
36.
Contract
53.
Clarify
Chr$ Swop
20
Bright Switch
37.
Expand
54
Space Saver
Chr$ Scramble
21
Paint Shape
38.
Expand Rem
55
Screen Overprmi
Super- Re number
22,
Record Sound
39.
Append
56.
Screen invert
2 Byte Converter
23.
Replay Sound
40
Count Program
57.
Clear All
Dec-" Hex Converter
24,
Sci-Fi Character Set
41
Tape Header Reader
58.
Ink Change
Hex-» Dec Converter
25.
Memory Available
42
Address
59.
Paper Change
Rem kill Condenser
26.
Line Renumber
43.
Checker-Board
60
Flash On
On Error Goto
27.
Uni-Note Sound- Gen
44.
Remove Colours
61.
Flash Off
On Break Goto
28.
Dual-Note Sound-Gen
45.
Display Memory
62.
Bright On
Free- Scroller
29.
Uni-Beep Simulator
46.
Hex Loader
63.
Bright Off
N on- Dele table Lines
30-
Multi-Beep Simulator
47.
Wait-Key
64.
Screen-Print
Border Effects
31.
Screen Fill
48.
Strings to Upper Case
65
Random Number Generator
Screen Search
32.
Screen Store
49
Strings to Lower Case
Routines 66-100 Screen routines
Variables Search/LiSl
33.
Screen Exchange
50.
Program to Upper Case
24-Line Printing
34,
Protect Program
51.
Program to Lower Case
SUPERCODE £9.95
Also available at Boots, W. H. Smith and all good
computer shops.
Send SAE for catalogue.
DELIVERY:
UK— prices include VAT and postage & packing.
EUROPE— add 80p per program
ALL OTHER PLACES— for air mail add E2 for the
first program and 50p tor each subsequent program.
Surface delivery add 80p per program.
Send Cheque, Postal Order or Access No. to:
] CP SOFTWARE, Dept SU1
17 Orchard Lane,
Prestwood,
Bucks HP16 ONN
Kl YItO Utl> FOR USE WIT
ZXH1 SPECTRUM
T6K(UncasedjEI9J
64K Memory £52.95 64K (Uncawd) £49
SPECTRU M Memory MKIJ £ 30 t MKJ £
This module unlike most other accessories fits neatly inyde your a
under the keyboard. It comes ready built fully tested and ct
with a 4K graphic ROM. giving an unoeiieveadle nu
Of extra pre-programmed graphics and turns th*" Hi
a very powerful computer wrth a graphic set rar
on larger more expensive machines In the ROM are lower
letters, bombs, bullets, rockets, tanks, a complete set of inv*
graphics and that only accounts for about 50 of them, th
still approximately 400 left [that may grve you an
to the scope of the new ROM} It also ha*, a spare
on the board which will accept a further ■
. ROM' RAM This holder can be fitted wrth a I K/2K/
^^B^ and can be used for user definable PBBB
H^^H| graphics so you can create your
^^^3^ own custom character set* £f9 95
Our cased
keyboard has 52 keys,
1 2 of which form a numeric pad
This enables you to cursor with one hand
a boon for anyone entering large amounts
of numeric data. The 12 keys comprise 1-9 numeric plus full stop and
shift keys, all in red, to distinguish from the main keyboard keys
which are in grey, the keys contrast with the black case to form a
very attraarve unit-
The 15" x 9" x 2W ease has been designed to take a ZX 81 or
Spectrum computer. Simply remove It from its original case and
screw the fitted bosses into the marked screw holes 1 6K. 32K or
64K can also be frtted to the motherboard inside the case (81 model
onfyj. All connectors are at the rear >.e Rower, Mic, Ear, T V, and
the expansion port. The case is also large enough for other, add-ons
like the power supply to be fitted, giving a very smart se I Contained
unit with which other add-ons e.g. printer etc. can sew be used.
Our ZX Professional keyboard offers more keys and features than
any other model rn its price range making it the best selling
best value keyboard currently avertable and comes complete wrth
simple fitting instructions.
Supplied with Spectrum legends, and a slightly different base for fitting the
Spectrum, again all connectors are at the rear and there is plenty of room for
the power supply (and other add-ons} Please specify on your order whether
you require the ZX8I or Spectrum model.
The UGHT PEN enables you to produce high resolution drawings on your
own TV screen simply by plugging into the ear socket of your Spectr urn The
controlling software supplied with the light pen has 1 6 pre-defined
instructions, chosen from a menu positioned at the bottom of the screen next
to the pen You can change colour {Border, Paper, InkJ, draw arcles^arcs
boxes, lines, fill any object with any colour,
and insert tent onto the screen at any
chosen place, you can also draw
freehand There is a feature to retain
che screens and animate On the 48k
Spectrum you can retam 5 screens
You can also use the machine code
on its own in your own programs,
for selecting out of a menu etc. The
software provided will return wrth
the X,Y. cords for it's position on the
screen The UGHT PEN is Supplied
with a control interface, to adjust the
sensrtivjtyfpen alignment. Should you
require further detarfs please send a
SAE-
WINNING IS WITHIN
YOUR GRASP
Joystick and Interface for Sinclair Spectrum]
with these features to give you
endless hours of enjoymerd
J . Super positive response fire burton I
2 Firm suction cups fori
stable one hand operation
3 Snug fit hand moulded grip
4 Additional fire button!
5 Extra long 4ft lead
The interface supplied wi
the quick shot TM hastfl
facilities for two Joysticks n
be connected
The first port simulates 679
& 0 keys The second p&
simulates in (3I| command
It will run any SofTwara
I Using keys 6. 7, 8,1
ii
2. Having redrfmable hq
function
Using m f 3 1 ] i e Kempston
4 Any Software you wi
yourjjfl
The so-called speaker in your Spectrum is really on a 'buz/er' Wrm
Tronics "SPECTRA SOUND" you can generate fully amplified sound thr
the speaker on your TV set SPECTRA SOUND is a very simple but
effective add-on This means that you no longer have a faint beep
highly amplified sound, which can be adjusted with the "
The SPECTRA SOUND frts compactly and neatly
•nsrde the Spectrum case and is connected b>
smal I c rocodile c lip 5 £ ^ .95
If you have ever had white outs or system crash
system crashes this could be th? a
ft stops the movement between the computer and the RAM
kansiori, it rs supplied wrth a ribbon 6 inches I
OXNECTG
with a male connector at one end and a female ar rhe otrieJ
£10.1
Plrnvt- typed machine, which l?OM memory size, quantity, and p\M p whpn or
PlraM" Mrnd mr $$ L
Plrdw vend mp !;
PIi-hm- vrnd mr Qt> L
Please add on £ I 1 5 tor post and packing
I enclose cneoue^P O payable loOk rrorncstntHlt
TUT
or debit by AccessfBarclaycardWo
Mi ll
OK Tronics Ltd., Untt 6, Shire Hill ind. Est.. Saffron Walderv
Essen CB1 1 3AQ. Telephone: f0799j 263 SO (24 hrs| 5 lines
Sign^ur? ...
Name
Addrr ^
Send tor UK Tronics Ltd,, Unit 6, Shfre HI Hind, Est , r Saffron Warden
Essex CB1 1 3AQ. Telephone: 107991 2 63SO 124 hrsl S lines
Cassette Round-up
SOFTWARE DIRECTORY
OUR comprehensive software listings service has been wel-
comed by readers. This month we are publishing the lull list,
updated with the latest releases such as Cyber Zone from
Crystal Computing and Hunter Killer from Protek.
If we have reviewed a cassette we have given ii a rating
known as the Gilbert Factor, named after our software ediior
John Gilbert. Although the final figure is out of 10 it is the
result of a complicated calculation involving a number of
factors which are taken into account when assessing how good
a cassette is.
The factors include value for money, the layout of the
screen instructions^ conciseness of the program and its speed
of operation, the accomplishment of the task it aims to
achieve, the innovation of concept, and the use it makes of the
machine.
While trying to ensure that all software is dealt with it is
inevitable that some will be omitted. We will remedy any
omissions later.
Any suggestions for improvement of the list will be wel-
comed .
Nairn*
Machine Company
Type Gilbert
factor
\ lit Lit 1*11
[VL VllJ-c 1 JHII'HVIH
r^pifL-p |.iUll£lll-lHl
hducahon
a
Abyss
iMk turn- CCS
Advenlure
*
Accounts (Sole
Trader*
4nn Tpct- i icsi*i.rcsi
Business
*
Arcounls (Limited
Huitness
Company 1
IK k SlU',- If i'-l'-UTl-M
-*n ft st^Hri , I ii
*
Accounts {Sole
*
-w ■ 1
1 raaen
i n K /\-Kl Hestairt-,1
JlllSllll 1 -*'*
\ a' minis ( Limited
LI a i . ■ a , , iu .
company)
16k ZX-81 Heslacrcsl
a
Address Manager
4*kSpec. (HP
Business
*
Ad* en lure 1
48K Spec* AherN*ifi
Adven.
6
Adventure 1
ItiK ZY-SI Abersoft
Adven.
6
Adventure N.
48K Spec. Contrast
Adveo.
*
Airline
I6K ZX-81 CCS
Sim.
*
Airline
48KSpec. CCS
Sim j.
*
Airliner
I6K Spec- Protek
Mill.
Air Traffic
i
Controller
ir.K Spec. Hew son
Sim,
Alien Dropout
16K 7X-81 SiKcrM»ft
Arcade
*
Alfeorf S~ 1
4SK Spec. A rirmingcr
7
Alphabet
16K Spec. Widget
kducalion
A-
Android One
16k Spec. Vortex
Adven,
■
Am Attack
4KB. Spec. QS
Arcade
8
Apocalypse
4AK Spec. Red Shift
Mind Game
*
Arcadia
16k Spec, Imagine
Arcade
9
Arcadian
16 K Spec. .1 k Greye
A rcade
*
imaged don
4Hk Spec. SiKt rsoil
Arcade
±
Aspect
lok Spec, Bug Hstc
■ r m its* . .
1 fdih
5
Assassin
I6K Spec. K pert raw R
Arcadr
*
Assembler
48KSpec. Artie
Ilility
6
Asteroids
IfrK SilverMifl
Arcade
*
Aneroids
!6k /5t-8l So H ware Kami
Arcade
6
\slral Convoy
l«K /X-KI Voile*
Arcade
*
Astrology
I6K Spec. Stellar Ntrts.
Utility
7
Astrology
16k /X-81 Stellar Senrs,
lltilily
*
Mlackon New ^ ork loK Spec. Fry
Arcade
*
Audio Sonic*
16k Spec, Work Force
Utility
4
Anto Chef
l6KSpec. CCS
Sim.
*
Auto Chef
16K /X-SI CCS
+
Avenger
16K Spec. Abacus
Arcade
+
Backgammon
4KB Spec. CP
Mind Cam?
7
ItacktJinrnon
16k Spec, Hew son
Mind Game
*
Ballooning,
IbK Spec. Heincmann
Kducalional
*
Bank Arcounl Sysl.
48K Spec, K Gooldsione
Bn^rve^s
R
Rank Raid
16k ZX-81 J M Senior
(■auie
Barrow (Juesl
16 k ZX-81 Sherry
Ad yen.
•
B«se Invaders
JHK Spec. Work Force
Arcade
6
Bailie of Britain
48 K Spec, Microgame
Si rat.
a
Battleships
16k ZX-BI JRS
StraC
*
4KB Spec Hilderhay
Utility
#
Hpsiirivi'an
16k /\-HI HihJerbay
Utility
*
Btamscan
48K Spec. Beam sc an
Utility
Beyond Basic
4Kk Spec, Sinclair
Lltilily
*
Big Match Soccer
16K Spec. Winters
Slrai.
*
BuTvihms P>raiTiidN
of Egypl
16K Spec. Spectrasoft
f ia mc
•
Name
Machine
C nmpany
Type
Oaaarl
factor
Black t >>s|al
4SK Spec.
C'arnell
Adven.
7
Hack Crystal
I6K ZX-«1 Camel 1
Adven.
7
black Dwarf's
Lair
4«K Spec.
Ad* en .
a
Black Hole
16k Spec.
Ouest
Arcade
6
Black Planet
J«K Spec,
Phlpps
Adven.
7
Blind Alley
l*k Spec.
Mmsliiii,'
A read v
7
Brain Damage
4Kk Spec.
SUvcrsoft
Arcade
•
Breakaway
I6K Spec.
Prm»m
■\ rt'a d v
•
Brewery
48K Spec,
CCS
Slrat.
It
Bridge Masler
lok 4SK
Spec.
Bridge Master
Trad,
Bridge hinir
16K Spec,
CP
Mind Gaana
*
Bugaboo
4»K Spci 1 .
OS
A rcade
7
Bug Blaster
16K Spec.
Crystal < omp.
A rcadt-
*
Business Bank
*
Account
JUL Wrm."
Transform
Business Hunk
Accnunl
Ifpk /X-81 Irunsform
*
Byter
I6K ZX-81 Protek
Arcade
*
Cfllpac 1
irpk Spec.
Calpac
Mucation
•
( alpac 2
I ok Spec.
Calpac
Fduca(ii>n
*
Calpac 3
16K Spec.
(alpac
kducation
*
Calpac I
I6K ZX-81 Calpac
Fducation
*
(alpac 1 -
lok rx-tl Calpac
1- due lit ion
*
Car Journey
|«C Spec.
F^lncaiional
*
( asHi- ( *i\t\\i/
48 K Spec.
Felix
Adven.
*
C astle Colditz
I6K ZX-S1
1 ilw
Adven.
•
Caterpillar
16k Spec.
CDS
Artudi
•
Character (-cn
16K Spec.
SpeclrasciH
Ilility
*
Chess Tutor 1
4«K Spec.
Sinclair
Kducalional
*
f hequercd Hag
4«K Spec.
Sinclair
Arcadi'
( hildren's
1 6k Spec-
Dymond
Gum
*
Chui kie h fig
16k Spec,
A and F
Arcade
•
Collector 1 s Pack
Sinclair
l-E ■ 1 ■_ J 1 1 ■ ■ % b.
7
Colossal Caves
4KB Spec.
Cf
Adven.
*
i ompilrr
4Xk Spec.
SoTlek
t I ili I >
6
Composer
4»k Spec.
Contrast
Ilility
•
C (inflict
■iH K ^|.?ii i , "t -
Martech
Stfpt
a
CattWd
l*k /\ Kl Marlifh
Slrai<
7
Countabout
4«k Spec,
rUlucaimn
•
Countries of
l be W»rld
1 fi k S pec .
Unman]
IMUity
•
Corridors--
1
GtJM
tHk Spec.
New rien.
Arcade
Cosmic fpucrilla
16K Spec.
Crystal Comp
Arcade
8
Counting
16K Spec
Starter Soft
Mucaliun
*
I onriEiil^
16k Spec.
Widget
Eteeaaaaa
i
Crevasse and
Motfool
16 k Spec.
Microsphere
7
Critical Path
AnalysK
4KB Spec.
IlildL-rbay
Business
*
SINCIA1R USI K January M4
Iftl
Name Machine ( ompam Type Gilbert
rati or
( nlical PuiN
Analysis
Ink ZX-8 1 Underbuy
Business
£.
O
Cruising
I6K Spec,
Sunshine
Arcade
C >ber Hiit>
Ink Spec,
Silversoit
Arcade
i
( mIi Planner
I6K Spec,
Med ida la
I >lifil>
4
Cyber Zone
48 k Spec.
Crystal Comp.
Arcade
ii
Dallas
Ink Snet .
CCS
Sim,
fi
16k ZX-81
Si n i .
6
DMitap
48k Spec.
Micro!
Husiness
7
Demolition
16k ZX-81 Comp. Rnlls.
Game
i,
IK- rin Day
48 k Spec.
( itmp. knii-
Game
to
Dcvinmr
16 k Spec.
Winters
Game
Devils of
Deep
48 K Spec,
Sluphard
Adven.
*
Dictator
ink Spec.
Bug Byte
Slral .
it
Diet run
Ink Spec.
Custom
U lilily
o
1 thJ-M irifih i
Ink Spec,
ilk' [ runic*,
1 .. liiily
7
Display
Ink Spec.
Work Force
1 lilily
DJ\ Book-keeping
48 k Spec.
HAM IW
Business
IH. AIM
48k Spec.
Campbell
1 ilillfu
I 1 1 II IV
•
Do Not Pass do
48k Spec.
Work Force
stm,
6
Do Not Pass Go
16k ZX-81
Work Force
Sl ml .
Door Slammer
16k ZX-81
Cathedral
jL J
Arcade
7
Dm 11
16k ZX-81 Myrmidon
Business
-•
Draughts
48K Spiv.
CP
Mind (iame
I
Dungeons of
Doom
16k ZX-81
W00M>fl
Adven.
t
Dungeon Master
48K Spec,
( r\s|j| ("unip.
Adven,
u
ft
Dv monoids
16K Spec.
Dymond
Game
Kdi 1 or A sscm b ler
16k Spec.
I'ic In rescue
Utility
1
\ (liu ulional
16k Spec.
Startersoft
Education
<ar
Engine Diagnusiii
48k Spec.
Speclrasofl
Utility
dj
Escape
16K Spec.
Slew 1 veneration Mai.e
8
Espionage Isl.
48k Spec.
Arlic
Adven.
5
Espionage Isl.
16k ZX-81
Artie
Adven.
Exl
48k Spec.
Abbe it
Arcade
Everest Ascent
48 k Spec,
Shcpard
\dvrrt.
6
Evolution
48 h Spec.
Microsphere
Game
i
>amil> i.;imfv Pack
16 K Spec,
Hornhv
(iame
*
i j rim i
16K Spec,
f{ s
Sim.
Farmer
loh ZX-81 CCS
Sim,
Fighter Pilot
Ifik ZX-KI Digital Int.
Sim.
5
1 iruro e Maunder
16k Spec,
OCT
Business
Firework Music
16 k Spec.
Soft Cottage
Education
Flight Sim.
48k Spec.
Sinclair
Sim.
ft
Flight Sim.
Ink ZX-81 Sinclair
Sim.
6
F lip-pit
48k Spec.
Sinclair
Puzzle
7
F oo| hall
16k Spec.
Wintcr-s
Sim.
Football Maria hit
48k Spec.
Addictive Gjlaja.
Sim.
1
Football Manager
16k ZX-81
Addictive Cms.
Sim.
The Forest
48k Spec.
Phipps
Simulaliuu
Forth
48k Spec.
Abersoft
Language
i on h
48k Spec.
Sinclair
Language
I
l-on hi
16k ZX-81 Sinclair
1 anguagc
1
I- our Rules of
Number
16K Spec.
Mitrt) Master
cation
Four Ruies of
Number
16K ZX-Bl
Micro Master
1 dmu.ion
FP (Compiler
16/48 Spec
. Soft ek
Utility
9
F mu li Voc Test
16K Spec.
Tutorial
Education
trench Voc Test
48K Spec,
Tutorial
Fducation
Froggy
H>h ZX-81 DJ1
Arcade
t
i
Froggy
16k Spec.
DJL
Arcade
7
Fruit Fine
16K Spec,
P A Hanson
Game
*
hruil Machine
16 k Spec,
dk' Tronic*
Game
6
Fulhwreen
IK ZX4H
Sew ( •i iiiTition Arcade
*
Ualaitians
16k Spec.
Artie
Arcade
Gala*} Conflict
48K Spot .
MaMech
Sinn.
*
Gala*) Conflict
lok Zi-81
Mahech
Slral.
8
Name Machine < urn pari > Tvpe GHIierl
factor
Gambling Tape
16k Spec.
Dymond
Game
(.units
16k /X-SI l« leiikli
dame
m
Games 2
16k /X-81
JRS
(iame
Games Tape 1
Ik ZX-81
J k (ireye
( iame
Game* Tape 2
Hih /X-81
J k Grc>c
1 iame
Games Tape J
16k ZX-81 J k Grex
(iame
Games Mack 1
16k Spec.
A Burn ham
(iame
Games Tape 1
l^k Spec
Sospan
M ■
( rame
Games 1 ape 2
16k Spec,
Sospan
Game
fp
daubsters
4Hh spec.
P Bouiton
Slral.
lir-neral KleCliort
hi. S<|)i?i -
Bug Bvte
Simulation
<jHost Hunt
16K Spec,
PSS
^ri aile
t
f roasher
Itil Spec.
K& R
Ma/e
y
(.onli|e-a-(phosl
16 k Spec.
t DS
Arcade
(J
Gobbleman
Ibk Spec.
Arlic
Arcade
< iohhleman
lbk Zk-81
Arlic
Arcade
■
f .otilller
16k ZX-81 Software Farm
,\ n aoe
f.
Golden Apple
48k Spec.
Arlic
Adven,
7
Golf
16k Spec.
k & r
— *' —
Sim.
—r
7
la?
Golf
Ink Spec.
Virgin
^i m .
B
B
Ciorgon
48k Spec.
Phipps
Ad ven T
_±li
Gonlla
16k Spec.
D Hornsby
(*ame
Go To Jail
48k Spec.
Automata
Trad,
(.rand Priv
16k ZX-SI
dk n Ironies
Arcade
*
(iraphit-s
16k ZX-81
IV A
1 C.I.I .
1 1 III IS
a
Graphics Toolkit
16k ZX-81
.IRS
I i»i|>
9
ureal or nil in mo
48k spec,
HcN>icl
~irai.
f
i
4 f-j--i 1 U rmi i.i r, 1 ri.l
16k ZX-81 llrvsd
*
t»reeoj uutcn
16k ZX-81 Phipps
A d ven .
f
G round A I tack
16k Spec.
Silversoft
a rcaoe
ll
Ground Force Zero
Ifik Spec.
1 ilan
Arcade
4,
/ ' ..|_ T
uUip £
|r>k ZX-81
s\ rt a u i
t
( iu In ma ii
Ifik Spec.
Campbell
A r^iMl p
. Haul
Halls ot 1 hinp
48 k Spec.
( ryslal Comp.
Adsen.
Handwriting
Chalksoft
1 din-.
Hanoi hniK
48k Spec.
Conlrasl
Mind (fame
Ileal brow
Ifik Spec.
llev* son
Sim.
Hidden Letters
16k Spec.
Poppy
Fducation
Hij>h Noon
48k Spec.
Work Force
Arcade
Htuh-resnluhon
Invaders
16K ZX-81
Odyssey
\ 1 1 Lllfr
Hitch Hikers
t^uide to the
Cjalavy
48 k Spec
FSP
Adven.
n
llnhhll
41 k Sped
Sin/M.Kw.
Adven.
1
Horace and till 1
Spiders
Sinclair
Arcadv
Horace Goes
Skllllg
lok spec
Sinclair
Arcade
u
ft
rtol Hot Spotter
16 k Spec,
Longman
1 rluo 1 ion
i
Hungry Horait-
16k Spec.
Sinclair
A read r
a
Hunter killer
48k Spec.
Prolek
A re, /'Ad*.
1 ( hmn
48 k Spec,
Sirius
Game
Inca Curve
•X iH k. yijn"i .
Sinclair
Adven,
6
Inca Curse
16k ZX-S1
Sinclair
Adven,
1 mk.il V
48k Spec.
< ha Ik soft
Sim,
liiEL-gralicin
16k Spec.
University
Utility
n-
ft
Integral ion
Ifik ZX-81 University
L lilily
LI
n
1 HhliTificdiatc
1 .nyhwli I
ifik spec.
Rose
Fducation
Intermediate
Fnglish 1
I6k ZX-81 Rose
Education
•
Irt termed ia I L'
Fnglish 2
16k Spec.
Rose
Education
Intermediate
English 2
16k ZX-81
Rose
Education
*
Intermediate
Maths 1
16k Spec.
Education
*
Intermediate
Maths 1
16k ZX-81 Rose
Fducation
*
1 n 1 ermed iu 1 r
Maths 2
loh Spet-
Rose
Iclnmlion
*
Intermediate
Maths 2
IfK ZX-81 Row
Education
+
162
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
Name
Machine Company
Type
Invaders
16k ZX-81 Ahersofl
Arcade
Invaders
16 k ZX-81 Bo* Byte
Arcade
Invaders
Ink ZX-KI Silversoft
Arcade
Invasion Force
IfcK Spec. Art if
Arcade
1 » i. intitule Isl.
48K Spec. Stiephard
Advert,
Gilbert
I at i or
Jackpui
Cn To Jail
Jnhnny Reb
key so under
Knijihi's gwesi
Knighi + s Quesi
Language Dei el.
Series
I. ungual DeveL
Series
L an^uage Devel.
Series'
Language Devel,
Series
Lata iron
Leap I fog
Learning Rrad I
Linear Proggin^
Linear Progging
LoM Island
Machine Code
Tesl Tirol
Machine Code
Tesl Tool
Mad Marl ha
Magic Mouniain
Make-a-t hip
Mailing l ist
M interfile
M»sierfife 16
Matcalc
Maths 1 uior
M«||t I Operations
Math*. Operations
Maze Chase
Mm Death Race
Mane Dealh Race
Maze Man
Ma/iacs
Ma/og>
MCodcr
MCoder
Melbourne Draw
Mmhani of Venus
Meleornids
Mctcoroids
Meteor Storm
Micmpen
Mined Out
Mines of Sal urn
Return lo Earih
Money
Monitor Diss.
Mime her
Munch* r
Mm ic Master
Siitmir Raiders
Nighl (iunner
NighiHile
Simotnik Puzzle
Nomlnik Po//le
-h n n ™|Jl.k« %- mmut-
Arcade
*
4Kk Spec, Automata
Trad.
+
4Kk Spec. Eolblorian
Sim.
I6K Spec, S and G
Clility
*
4Kk Spec. Phipps
Adven.
6
I'.K ZX 81 Phipps
Adven.
*
Ink Spec, Afcis
Arcade
16k Spec, Glasson
Educaiion
*
I6K zx-ai Glasson
1 ducation
*
16K ZX-81 Micro Master
Education
+
Ink Spec. Micro Masler
Education
*
4Kk Spec, ClUAtMMi
Arcade
J 6k Spec C DS
Arcade
*
16k Spec* Poppi
Educaiion
*
|6k spec, tniversity
Ulililv
*
L6k ZX-81 University
Utility
*
16K ZX-KI JRS
Advrn .
•
16k Spec. OCP
Ulilily
7
16k ZX-81 OCP
4KK Spec. Miko-Gen
Phipps
Sinclair
H est acre v(
CampbL-H
tampbdl
Work Force
AD Software
University
University
Hewsort
PSS
Abersofi
dk' Tronics
16k ZX-81
48k Spec.
Ink ZX-81
48k Spec.
16k Spec.
16 k Spee<
16k Spec.
16K /X *l
Ink Spei .
|6k Spec.
48 k Spec,
Ink ZX-81
16k ZX-81
48K Spec.
16k ZX-KI Bug Rite
u.h Spec. PSS
16k ZX-81 PSS
48k Spec. Melbourne Hse
16k ZX-81 Crystal
16k Spec, dk' Troitiev
16k Spec. Softck
16k Sptt. Quieksilva
1 6k Spec, Conlrasl
16k Spec. Quicksiha
16k spci .
16K Spec.
48k Spec.
16 k Spec
16k ZX-81
48k Spec.
Mikro-Gen
Poppy
Sinclair
Silversoft
Silversoft
Sinclair
I lilily
Adven.
Adven.
Educational
Business
Riisiness
i lilily
Education
U lilily
Uiiliii
Arcade
Arcade
Arcade
Arcade
Arcade
Arcade
L lilily
Utility
Utiliu
Adven.
Arcade
Arcade
Arcade
UtiiBj
Arcade
Adven.
Educaiion
LI lilily
Arcade
Arcade
Educational
16k ZX-81 Arlie
Arcade
8
16k ZX-81 Digital
Sim.
5
16K Sp*c + He* son
Sim.
5
|6k Spec . Phipps
Game
7
16k ZX-81 Phipps
Game
*
Cassette Round-up
\ame
Oilds-on
O Level Chemistrv
O Level Chemistry
O Level Fcitch
Revision
O Level Maths
Revision
0 Level Physic*
1 1 I l- > t- 1 Mbytes
Omniealc
Orbiter
Original
Sitperchcss
Original
superchess
Ostron
01 hello
Othello
Oi hell ■»
Pascal Compiler
rath finder
Payroll
Payroll
Payroll
Payroll
I'L'i'k
Penelralor
Personal Banking
S>*,lem
Personal Banking
Msleni
Pharoah s Tomb
Pilot
|*l p q | :,| |Q 111
Pi mania
Pinball
Pirate
Pitman Seven
Planet of Dealh
Planetoids
Polynomials
Polynomials
Pool
Pre early school
cassettes
Primary Arithmetic
Primary Arithmetic
Print Shop
Print shun
Prim Utilities
Pro-Gull
Programmer's
Dream
Programme
Enhancement
Package
Puck man
Punctual inn Pele
Purchase Lttfgtf
truest
Kamopoly
Red Weed
Regression
Keg ri"i h i i f it
RenumlKr |>elete
Renumber Delete
Kepukar
Rescue
Ret ersi
Runhlte
Rouletle
Sales l>ay l^tuk
Salrs Da> Bunk
Sales Ledger
Machine Company
16k Spec KSD
48K Spec. Culpa*
16K ZX-81 Calpac
16k ZX-81 Rose
I6k ZX-»l Rose
Ink Spec.
48k Spec.
48k Spec
16k Spec.
Ilorneslud)
Think lank
Microsphere
SMversof!
4KK sptc t P Sollware
16k ZX-81 CP Software
16k Spec, Soltek
Ink Spec. CP Software
16k Spec. M.OJ.
16k ZX-KI M.O.L
48k Spec
lt»k Spec,
48k Spec.
16k ZX-KI
32k ZX-81
48k ZX-81
16k Spec.
4Kb ^>,.
in son
W id gel
Htlderbat
Hildcrbav
Soft Tech
Soft Tech
Zen
Mel. Use
4Ak Spec. HfJlon
16k ZX-81
16k zx*m
16k ZX-81
16k ZX-81
48k Spec.
16k Spec.
48k Spec.
16k Spec.
16k Spec.
16k Spec,
16k Spec.
I6k ZX-KI
Ink Spee.
Hill. .ii
Phipps
Hewsort
Automata
Automata
Winters
4 halksofl
V i^iims
A hie
Sinclair
I niversil)
Liniversils
Bug Bile
Ifik spec. I Asia
16k Spec. Rose
|6k ZX-81 Rose
t6K Spec. CCS
Ink ZX-81 CCS
1 6k Spec. Sinclair
!6kSpec. Hornby
16k Spec. Work I'ora
Type
Wlnerl
faclmr
Game
•
Education
*
Education
+
Kducation
•
Lducalion
Education
*
Ed uca l i on
•
ItusirK v„
Arcade
7
i raa 1 1 1 iu n
*
i raoiiiiMi'ii
i
AFcafie
i
I rauiuonai
a
i rauiiioom
*
Traditional
*
*
Education
*
Business
Business
#
BllSHH 1 ^^
a
Busini'ss
■*
1 r.l.li
L lilily
*
Arcade
7
1
Business
*
llllMlll'^^.
Adven.
*
Adventure
f
Adventure
Simulation
7
(ianir
L" mM ..
r.ouc.
*
Vdven.
*
Adven .
1
Arcudt 1
a
n
I r>NiL
II 1 III 1 J
1
1 lilitt
Game
7
Education
*
Educaiion
•
Education
a
Simulation
8
Simulation
*
Utility
*
(iame
7
1 Lilily
8
16k ZX-81 R and R
vmm
*
16k ZX-81 He* so n
Arcade
*
16K Spec. Heinemann
Educational
*
16k ZX-81 Heslacml
Business
*
48k Spec, Hewsoit
Adven.
6
48k Spec. .1 Helcher
Game
48k Spec, Lothlorian
Simulation
•
Ink Spec. 1 ni%LTsil>
Lltililj
8
H,k ZX-81 L niversil}
Mililv
a
Hik Spec. Work Force
LMillly
*
16k ZX-81 Work Eorce
li lilily
■
16k Spec. Soflek
A result 1
4Mk Spec. Computer Rent
Arcade
*
I6k Spec. Sinclair
1 raditional
8
16k Spec. Newsofi
Iradilional
*
4Kk Spee. Dymond
1 radilional
•
4»k Spec. Transform
Business
•
16k ZX-81 Transform
Business
*
16k ZX-81 Hestatresl
Business
*
SINCLAIR CSER January 1984
IM
Cassette Round-up
Name Machine Company Type Gil lien Name
fuel or
Ifik Spec. Newsofl
Mi /A HI \r
I6K Spec Anvil
Mac him- Company I'ypr Gilbert
faclor
48k Spec.
1 itrri-i
U tility
7
Ink Spec.
Winters
Game
*
h.K ZX-81 Phipps
Game
4BK Spec.
Computer Ren.
Game
*
48K Spec.
t oinpulcr Hi, ii.
Adven.
•
48 K Sp+v,
Bug Byle
Adven.
16k Spec,
Cirnell
Art ade
*
48 k Spec,
Phipps
Sim.
•
Ifik Spec,
New Soft
Game
Ifik ZX-81 Ne* sofl
f>mnr
•
1 ilnliiv!
Arcade
48 k Spec.
OCT
1 radilional
8
16k Spec,
New Soft
Adven.
*
16K ZX-81
New Soft
Ad veil.
*
48k Sp«.
gs
Arcade
48 k Spec.
Felix
A ilvcn.
*
Ifth / VNI
relit
Adven.
*
IfiK Spec.
Zeil
Utility
•
Ifik Spec.
1 C\ga(e
1 1 ili 1 >
8
16K Spec.
Microsphere
' ...in-
9
Secrel > nitty
Secret Valley
Self -leach
Program
Self leach
Program
Sentinel
Serpents Tomh
Tkt Stiller
The Settler
shape Sorter
Sideways ( npy
Sheepffift
Sheef Panic
Ship ii f Doom
Shiva Special L
Shopping l ist
Sky Raider
Slippery Sid
Slow Loader
Snail logo
Snail [.ii
Snooker
Soflillk l
Sofijilk :
Solaris
Solo Whisi
Sound rX
Space high let
Space Intruder*
spacr l a new
Space Raiders
Space Raiders
Space Trek
Space Zombies
Spmoh fluid
Speak and Spell
Special Agent
Spec, Assembler
Spec. Bug
Spec, t ape Copier
SperladraM 2
Spec I i peri e
spectral Panic
Spec. Compiler
Spec. Editor/
Assembler
Spec, forth
Spec, l-orlh
Spec, frogs/
Showdown
Spec. Cobble man
Spec. Invaders
Spec. Invasion
Korce
Spec. Mirrochess
Spec. Monitor
Spec. Scramble
Spec. Sound
"ipellhin
Splal
Spook v man
Spreadsheet
Star Ga/er
Su perches* II
Supereode
Mi per Plai I
Superspy
31) Strategy
I ii
lank Battle
[ape Breaker
Tasword
Fiwo r ld II
Teathcraiu
Teach l>ala
16K / \ M
Anvil
16k Spec.
Abac n >i
If.K ZX-81
Vorfcx
lf>K Spec.
BSS
U.h /X 81 Kss
Ink Spec.
Widget
Ifik ZX-81 D king
48K Spec.
Virgin
Ifik Spec.
Visions
48K Spec.
Arlic
16K Spec.
Shita
16k spi t .
>D
IfiK Spec,
C M Smith
16K Spec.
Sil v erso I t
Ifik Spec.
II R
48 K Spec.
CP
48k Spec.
CP
16k Spec.
Visions
48K Spec.
CP
4*K Spec.
CP
48k Spec.
Sole!
lok Spec.
Video Son.
Ifik Spec.
dk' Ironies
IfiK Spec.
Winters
[oh Spec.
IfiK Spec.
Cathedral
IfiK Spec.
Sinclair
IfiK /X-81
Sinclair
ink ZX-81 JUS
16k Spit .
Mi km Gen
48K Spec.
Chalksofl
48 K Spec.
S and G
16k Spec.
Heine Hi a ii ii
48 k spec.
Artie
16 k Spec.
Arik
16 k Spec
S Giza
48 k Spec,
Mc Alley
16K Spec.
K and R
16k Spec.
1 If h son
48k Spec.
Softek
16k Spec.
PiclurestjiH-
48k Spec.
Ahcrsoft
48k Spec,
CP
\rli(
Arlk
IfiK Spec. Arlic
I6K Spec. Artie
IfiK Spec. Pittiirt'Miui'
16 k Spec* Work Force
16 K Spec. M Ai/al
ifik spec, s t anerso ft
48k Sjiet Incentive
Ifth spec, Abbex
48 k Spec. Micro I
48 K Spec. CRL
48k Spec. CP
16 48 K
Spec* CP
I6K Spec. Video
48k Spec. Shepherd
48K Spec, QS
16K /X-81 PSS
IfiK Spec, dK* Trcmics
IfiK Spec. Spectrasoft
48 k Spit . I as man
48K Spec. I asmun
IfiK Spec. B Karris
48K Spec. B Karri,
Adven.
*
Adven.
*
Fducaliun
•
1 dura r tori
*
Arcade
•
Adven.
*
Clility
*
Utility
*
Fducution
*
Clility
*
Guxur
1
Arcade
7
Adven.
7
Games
Ulilily
*
A trade
•
Arcade
8
Utility
1
[ unguagr
*
I'duc [,ang.
7
Arcade
*
[lility
*
Utility
Arcade
+
1 radilional
+
Utility
6
Arcade
+
Arcade
7
Arcade
•
Arcade
6
Arcade
±
Arcade
Arcade
*
kducation
*
I'dncalion
*
Fdiu alional
*
[ lilil>
*
[ TUItV
Utility
*
1 lility
*
Arcade
8
Arcade
S
I lll.IV
7
Utility
8
1 alienage
V
I lililty
*
A rca de
*
Arcade
*
Arcade
i
Arcade
1 rati if ti mat
1 nlir>
Arcade
Utility
»
Hint at ion
*
Arcade
\rcade
7
Business
7
I tility
8
Iradltionel
8
Utiftfy
*
*
Adven.
S
Mind Games
Game
*
Game
8
Utility
•
Business
8
Business
*>
F ilntaiion
*
Kducalion
■
l eacher l>ata
Tennis
lenpin
Teal Match
I tie Orh
The Castle
I 'he Devil Kidvs In
The Korest
The Great W estern
The Great Western
I he Pyramid
I lu 1 ii rk
I hilt HuruliK
I [AC liaildits
rijrne Galr
Tomb of Dracula
Tomb of Dracula
I race
Trace
Train Game
I raiisylvanian
lower
Tuxx
Iroon
Tabe Train Terror
3D Tunnel
Use and Team
Valhalla
Velnor's | .air
Voice Chess
Volcanic Dungeon
Vulcanic Dungeon
Vu-Catc
Vu-Hle
Vu3D
Warlord
Wt/ard's Warriors
Word I ii
Word Procemr
World Info
Uralh or Magra
Xadom
x Ray
\ ahl/i
Vsmp
/eus Assembler
Zodiac I
Zodiac II
Zodiac I
Zutkchan
ZXAS
ZX-Buk
/X -Chess f
ZX -C hess II
ZX IK Chess
/\ Ceoptter
/.XDII
ZX Draughts
ZX Forth
ZX Forth
ZX-fJ Ik
flames Pack
ZX Invasion l ortc
ZX-81 Pocket Book
ZX-81 Kcmhiad
/.X Scrvcnkil
ZX-sideprint
48 K Spec. Shepherd
4Kk S|iec. QS
48KSp*c. Ilomby
4«KSu*c. JRS
48k Sn*-c. New Gen.
I6K Spec. Microl
4«k S|iei \ MovisoH
4Hk Spe< IJS
48k Spec. Arlic
Ifhh ZX-81 C urnell
48K Spec. Carnell
Ifik Spec. Sinclair
16K Spec. Sinclair
48K Spec. Sinclair
48k Spec. Lolhlorian
IfiK Spec. Ahersofl
IfiK ZX-S1 Ram Writer
48K Spec. Microl
48K Spec. Wimsoft
48k S f iet Cartull
48 K Spec. QS
16 K Spec. Zen
4Kb Spec. Work Force
16k Spec. V irgin
48K Spec. Sinclair
IfiK ZX 81 Stellar
IfiK ZX-SI Stellar
48K Spec. Stellar
IfiK ZX-SI D.I I
IfiK ZX-SI Bug Byte
IfiK ZX-SI Artie
IfiK /X 81 Artie
48k Spec. AHk
IK /X-81 Arlic
1 6 k /X-81 Sit verso H
16k ZX-81 Bu K Byle
48 K Spec. CP
lf>k Spec, dk" Trtoiit^
16k ZX-SI Arlic
48K Spec. Artie
Ik ZXZ^tl Crystal
IfiK ZX-81 Artie
IfiK ZX-81 Phipps
Ifik-fi4k
ZX-81 Picturesque
4h-04K
zx^8i rtiiampw
Ifik ZX-SI Microsphere
Adven. *
Arcade 7
Game S
frame •
Arcade |
Utility 8
Adven.
Adven. M
Iradilional 9
Adven.
Adven. fi
Business 7
HuMiits- H
UiBUy 8
Simulation *
Arcade
(.aim- 6
Business
Utility
Adven. *
Arcade 7
Utility
I raililional
Arcade 7
I ni l.. V
utiiitj
l lllllH *
Ulilily 7
Arcade 8
Ulilily
[tility
Traditional
I raditional
1 radii ional
Utility
Utility
Imdilional
t *
lunj-uajir S
I a nonage 8
f.ainrs 9
Arcade *
Games
Ulilily
Ulii.lv
Utility
Ifik Spec.
16k Spec.
16h Spec.
164
SINCLAIR USFR fam^rv IHKI
NOW A ZX81
PUSH-BUTTON
KEYBOARD
FOR UNDER £10.
.MH* SIX? Hie arigHtf fc#yto*rd K dean
nd check itwt afl 1he *fy S lunctran
? Thpfluttonset i*1te)d in place
by sell *dh«rue padb
1 5a all you do i5 remciw 1iw
proieciivebaflirfig
A fad place it centrally cm rot* /JtSl
At last there's a really cheap but efficient way of
ironing out the ZX81's only real bug: its keyboard. The
Ftaxty Buttonset offers:
■ A full-travel calculator-type moving keyboard for only
£9.95. ■ Installed in seconds The peel-off adhesive backing
means you just register into position and press. ■ No messy
labels, dismantling or soldering, ■ 3 groups of colour keys
to pick out shift numerals and newlin&a Precision moulded
in ABS to match your ZX81, with contrasting legends for
maximum legibility
Fileaxty Ltd., 25 Chippenham Mews, London W9 2 AN. England.
Tel: 01-289 3059. Telex: 268 048 EXTLDN G 4087.
Orders to Fitesixty Ltd., FREEPOST, London W9 2BR,
Cheques/PO made payable to Filestfy Ltd.
Please send me__„ (QtyJ Buttonset at £9.95 each
(including VAT and PiP).
Total i
BLOCK CAPITAL.
Name
Address
SLl 01. '84
FILESIXTY
USER January 1984
165
HAVE
HAPI
Here's a sure-fire way of making certain 1984 is packed full of fun for you and your friends. We've searched for
brilliant new program sources throughout the U.K. and North America to find an exciting collection of new
games — and business programs — many of which cannot be bought by mail order from any other source!
These are our latest exclusive offerings.
t SNOOKER*
#•* Visions Snooker brings ait the excitement
and al I ihe tension of big time
^ * tournaments to your TV sel
With an advanced program written by a
— ^ | IS year old undergraduate at Queens
pi Cofleqe Cainbndge. it makes Pol
•I Black took like a toad of eld balls.
\% Visions Snooker for ine 1€K
0 1 ZX Spectrum. It's art exerting lest of
skills on the cue.
Cassette price: £8.95
Ref . No: 2 53
PITMAN SEVEN
Ybur mission is la rescue two teams ol
I seven desperate men. trapped
k underground on level five. You must
■A bring each man to me surface,
\ surviving lh.e dangers you meet
en route.
ZX Spectrum ASK,
Cassette price: £6.95.
Ref. No: 2-52
FREE BLANK CIS CfP
WITH EVERY TWO CAP
Remember there's no 10 tl
cassettes you receive if yrffc)
why not get together tfier
members and
GREAT VALUE! TREMENDOUS SELECTION! PLUS A FREE
OFFER EVERY TIME I - - - .
Fill m the order form right away — we're guaranteeing fast
delivery, quality and satisfaction [after all, we want you to
come back for more!)
The Software Workshop! Yew Tree, Selborne,
Hants GU34 3 JP
GUAR/*
Order with complete > J|{
not entirely satisfy
your purchase ret
days and we wiH
NEW YEAR!
And here's a further selection of
the latest games, the best-value software
for your ZX-81 or Spectrum.
Software
1 -01 Stock Market
Ffcjy and self your way tp millions'
1EK HAM
1 -02 Football League
F rst division fun for the soccer
urithusiSBl H'K RAM
1 -03 Test Match
Match your was olongeide the
superstore 16K RAM
1 1 2 Avenger
Avoid misdates and bomb^ in tn*CDme the
niter 1 6K RAM
1- 13 Protector
□el end yowr own slup Iron* nncnrrtiritj
attackers. 1 6K RAM
141 Comp-U-Share
investitienc rrsnegement, prograrn lor
urvL trusts, ijharfis and loan stocks.
Complete documentation inducted
1 m RAM
Spectrum Software
2- 1 3 Sentinel
Guard your mother ship against afcen
•I.1..M k:. 4HK MAM
£3.95
£.3.95
£3.95
£4.95
£4.95
£9.95
£4.95
2-14 M et eo r Storm
Spectrum vBrtion ol the ev»r -popular
, .!►• 16* •••• Utt £4.95
2-1 5 Star Trek
Popular space program broupjrt. to Me l>y
excellent graphics 48KRAM £4.95
2 -21 Frogger
WanoeuvTTB tfw trog Bcrw^ iN • i utiii
avoiding heavy traffic 4SK RAM £5.95
2 22 Crazy Balloons
GuitV. the baHoanS ncn*nd U« maze
without bursung 40K RAM £5.95
2-23 Arcadia
1 he e upert ' s vari-iion of the papula
'Invaders' game !6Kor4QKRAM £5.95
2 24 Golf
The linesl of golf handicap games.
48K RAM £5.95
2-25 Test Match
More Cidting than t,h*> r-eat Uiu K|
£5-95
2-26 Qerby Day
Tina favourite has to Lie ^ vrtwer
48 K RAM £5.95
2-41 Comp-U-Share
See 1 31 under j£XB1- 4BK HAM £9.95
SHEER PANIC
Mming for Magnetic Quartz cs
a hazardous business. You
have to ensure that there is
plenty of oxygen lo breathe.
Tight off the local monsters with
onh/ a shovel and counter
interference with your
consciousness.
ZX Spectrum 16K or 48K.
Cassette price; £5-95.
Ref. No: 2-51
i To: The Software Workshop, Yew Tree, Selborne, Hants GU34 3JP
| I wish to order the following programs I understand that:
I will receive a FREE blank cassette with every 2 programs ordered
I can return products within seven days if not entirely satisfied and
receive a repiacement .
COlPUTER CASSETTE
:asettes you order
10 lirnip fre number of free
f yrjurpir justifies them - so
; r vviti^hends or user- group
d shartthe treetiies?
Ref No
Qty Title
Price
Postage, packing and handling: add 45p for the
first cassette, and 25p for each additional
cassette. Non-UK orders add extra 50%
te cadence. W you are
fe^iththequahtyof
jSrW ■ replacement-
I
1 1 enclose a cheque/postal order for
I
i
Total
Name
Address
[Allow 28 days MAXIMUM FOR DELIVERY]
v , -
New oclion sports games lealuro □ 3D view of the game In football and tennis
you ptav one side, me computer plays tn© other. The computer li foitafid nard
to beal Dmefent ikiii levels
FOOTBALL
£ocn player can move, snoot etc independently includes <cxjtj if players
collude. Corners.. »hrow ins elc SCalG 90 minuPes play Any leom or names can
be used Game can pe SAnperxfed and p*aye* number* snown at ihe press 01
ake> Price £5 50.
BIG MATCH SOCCER
Just like football pome put for 2 players facfi plover uses keys af hi* side or ihe
kevtioafd to conlrol his men. All men can be moved, shoot ere. independently
Prociioe wim loofboli Then ploy your tn*nds in the t>g match, Price t5.50
SUPER SOCCER
A deluxe vettlon 01 ihe lootball. Even faster action, horaer io beat Choose
team colours elc. Price £7 00
TtNNlS
Bach hey pioyi o cutterem stroke Mc^e your players anywhere on court
Computer plays a hard game All tennis rules used, just like the real thing.
Pf ope* serving and scoring Plays 3 sets Animated tiflvjres PRICE £5.50.
TANK BATTLE
3D view from the lania' rurret of woods, villages, attacking tanks etc Shots can
destroy buMdtngs, frees and enemy lanks 360 degree timet movement. Price
tMH
CAR RACf
vou Of*ve one cor. the computer rne oiner. Control your car wilh steering and
nrakes. Choice of 2 circuits. Lap counlers and lime recorded PtIcb £3. K.
Buy any 3 gomes, get any game free
HORNBY
SOFTWARE
SPECTRUM , .
PRO GOLF SERIES J
NEW ERA IN COMPUTERISED GOLF
* Recommended by "Sinclair User", August
EXACT SIMULATION OF BRITAIN'S TOP GOLF COURSES
(1> ALL GOLF RULES APPLY
(2) DESIGNED FOR ONE OR TWO PLAYERS
(3) PLAYED OFF ANY HANDICAP
(4) ON EACH HOLE OIST, PAR, GREEN ENLARGEMENT
<5) CONTROL SHOT - CLUB. STRENGTH, DIRECTION.
SHAPE OF SHOT
(6) GRAPHICS EXCELLENT
(7) EXTREMELY REALISTIC
* TROON £6.95 4SK
ROYAL BIRKDALE £6.95 ASK
LINORICK £6 95 48K
WENTWORTH - EAST & WEST COURSES £10 00 48K
PRO GOLF £4.95 16/48K
9 HOLE SIMULATED COURSE
ALL PRICES INCLUSIVE OF VAT, P+P, AVAILABLE FROM:
HORNBY SOFTWARE
21 PINFOLD HILL. LEEDS LS15 0PW
SLT1
The Key to Spectrum Machine Code Success
Picturesque s machine code system Is used and recommended fry professional software wrl
documentation and the friendly, easy-to-use programs nave been nigniyrecommende
me excellent
Code Svstem.sobuy the best, the one the professionals use
ASSEMBLER
Completely self-contained,
with its own line editor, giving
an easy-to-read 40 column
tabulated listing. Auto line
numbering, line renumbering
and auto-tabulation make
this the fastest and easiest
Assembler to use. s
character Label names.
SAVE / LOAD / VERIFY both the
listingand MachineCode.
Accepts Decimal or Hex
\ numbers and all zso
' mnemonics. Assembler
Directives — org. end
DEFB. DEFW. DEFS. DEFM. EQU,
DEFL. F AST ASSEMBLY:- 1K Of
machine code in 7 seconds Full error detection.
32 page Owner 5 Manual
rt_IL*T w,M ___
£8.50
iWCL VAT
SF1
MO
MONITOR
The ideal tool to help the
beginner get started, yet It
contains all the commands for
the experienced programmer
to run ana de bug machine
code programs,
inspect and alter memory
contents in Hex or ASCII
characters. Breakpoints
and full Register display
Disassemble any part of
memory. ROM or RAM.
Dec-Hex-Dec number
conversion, plus Block
Move insert <3nd Delete
commands for general
memory management
32 page owner's Manual can reside in memory with the
Assembler <48K machines only) to give a
complete system
coot
£7.50
IWCL VAT&PSP
The most valuable software purchase you will ever i
-lUUKftUU
Available from the spectrum chain of stores, branches of John Menziesand all good computer PlCTUBESO
shops, or by mail order by sending cheque 1 PO to:
PICTURESQUE 6 Corkscrew Hill. West Wickham. Kent, BRA 9BB. Send SAE for details
1
PICTURESQUE
168
SINCLAIR USER January 1984
i t«* ih* *HCT«JM nl IX VI WFiWT t= OCt Mini - An - kluCI
HOME STUDY..
TRE LEIGH WOODS FARM
REDHIiTH CORNWALL
48 K SPECTRUM
PHYSICS 0 LEVEL REVISION PROGRAMS
A.E.8. SYLLABUS 052 1964; 5 £26 THE SET
MATHEMATICS 0' LEVEL REVISION PROGRAMS
LONDON SYLLABUS B 1361 f 1984. 5 E30 THE SET
CAMBRIDGE SYLLABUS D j4004 r 1984/5 £30 THE SET
WE GUARANTEE YOUR EXAMINATION SUCCESS
OA WF WILL REFUND THE FULL PURCHASE PRICE
IX SPECTRUM 48K
l HEW TAMILY GAMES
Feu 2 to 6 player* oj iU &qea
QUIZ CWLQUT3&: genet a I InvowKKicje
gMne IBltliCUVe bfllw^ti playtri, lots
a ■fcrin rod chu""^ involved iS. 54) .
WTXNCR TAKE ALL: gviwral knawl-
Bdjg gang, as* (at fun or a gpa^Lble
Fiakly Jtvu^b^t to n«w question
taste Gmjuoii banks »L™ jvulable Tot
111 199 groups &AE fni d*Ulln.
JL'MFli SOFT
W Warwick Koad. WaJion.
PrteibDicniflll. PE3 6DA
PERSONAL FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
A tfchQui taarKtat application lor 4BK
Sjpaciruin
•jKCixinli and 26 expenditure cote
gene*, tact* *«th balance Enquiry, de
t*M ctntmenis fur variable periods.
Ml update facility
'SophiancaEEid aiandirtg. orde<&. ffjaiui
infl variable {mymiint inliMVdiK. I r j ■ i -r-
let bei**en accounts, any number ol
DPyrrflnlf! Tullv updaT-eatJlQ
*FuWy menu driven + uitt Itiervdlv
'□an *t«ed on axrernal Tape fm*
kid pfip
'CheqLeM >.u FlJLWOOO SQf T WAflf
tDw 51. 9 P"*fy Aston.
Srwlliif+ii i'Ll
SPECTRUM TfcPt ACCESSORIES
Hfr-SreiHWOEH windoHri»ntaii»*|i4nnil
mmtow f nrVtf i pi ny . i|i1 piDqnni Luf tun«*nji^
SwTnC TtfC fiMTMlL Wi n iSMrurr aaetli
■MlPM iTiTlfr ml LCMUJSJwL iwithnf «l uwnrma
NMM DMWMfrf B*5C [raflnr- or uytairi MnMM.
hA«< K P ITH' "l* XHjIT* :>TOU pin Km. (Ifc
WkriM Hi fttttCMI flS- El Mt>l»> |£i6 H
RPJUPi FIFO P'Bl n MU: mM. * W H 1 Uiil
W iS ft * CSS Pi P towWrml'i Ht l tmOWfVlt
IflfcSI p* KN^ C8 ■ E"
KCME atMatwm •*0ul niMKdc "vrtiiMi
«n HrreirarM lU£> h N m h mow. r i u
I PH1TH u*l niputOT *1t rfuO ift G «
* I ™wi g I* r. W ««
aasrm jkls t** a f- m ti » m*
VIi '.*[r»r- SWWbUli
MESSWCHOSVSTEIB
SPECTRUM REPAIR SERVICE
VERY FAST
SeHiJ roully Stnjut»urti. t>HB*r 0«C.r4:Jng
foum ro
lnd«nr (nr*rp<ism 1W,
37 Li*KJi>n toiiw
Common Brad
lanffrfcy, Sloogn
B*»rki si j an
or Phone SOugn (07SJj 4876-i. WejtVfcJy *0
bcitvchiv Cr*r tli t>u * Ptirhi oiKt fV-^tope
We- OrtO 'OOOii a'l Con"JnrjdLiie Svi'term
SPECTRUM 30 DESIGNER
No pre plotting - dtaw simpld or
COfmpleji deBhgnrj dirot^ «i> screen
Flip m aiid out of 2D or 30. rotate,
scale, move a^rjuiicl screen, change
depth of 3D rjrotGCtttni etc Let the
kids dwSU n 1he<r own cars, spacecraft
etc. fluns or* 16K or 48K. C4 35 m
duding p&P
MATRIX SOFTWARE Dept FT,
79 Mildenhall. Tamwnrth. Siaffa
SWAG
+ VOYAGER for 16K ZXSl
2 Top Oames on 1 Tape -Only
£2.95
SWAG DDdge rhe LOP* flnd <oh tho banh
in this exemnu COPS - N' ROBBERS yam*
VOYAGER - Tyv.bl through every □□Hud*
Ihrawfi »1 vOv then ijaitrny (he Emplrl,
HOWARD SOFTWARE
20 PahlVCelyn. FivltgMaict,
Oyrirri SA65 9EL
LtARN A BO I, 1 1 MKTROMCS
WITH YOUR SPf CTRUM 43K
S#vp %4rm liurffil im^^nrhTm hMiin« ikmI *v in
HKMfl
■ I . vii|-. Il« i^-iinjlnJ JrtlinuM yiiflhx *
• ii* i «ttpnn#nt%
i:.
. ... i -iWUhlf Nlf hTfwiiwTV t it I I M t.i-L, Ptf
Aim! . .hi/-. hMii ifrnmimiiii |Ih-ht> l'IK*-f1J?4
4 rtp pft|> I Hh i«Tiri rtttltl TO
Kift.dhi*
ARE YOU ANTI-GLARE?
As a programmer you'll know the
discomlort ol Tjyestrain ihat resuliBi
frpm continued use of you* computer .
Mtrnv Thfi-re's a cure' Anti-glara titters
allow prokw>Q*d u» - wuhout
headaches or mistakes 1 Graa 1 fo*
colour too I Just write down ita Bum ol
your screen <ln?iu.hr ami wnj|h in
inchesl and sendf 1 1 .65 - 25 pen&w
P&P liolal El SO) to:
Please rush me
in comfort
Name To
Address
County -
Screen Si« " w "
. Anti-Glare screens at C 1 90 each %C th«l I 0*n program
To advertisu in (lie
Sinclair Superman, call
Annette or> <0U 359 3525 NOW!
ARE YOU A RAILWAY
ENTHUSIAST AND OWN
A 48K SPECTRUM
l| 1C WrVtlroll i^ ii ii-iij^I ru, yuu
Thia gtmw lok.« you bock 10 rha doyi o\
ittom, wrnct ftxM D*»»tliv» it ho m 1000
kxomciriw** »rfnl*l irttvrfllng bnwtHi tffl i'o
iKj-.-i fii-i 4K» W«Kwr> Ka^ron ■ncluding cltn«d
•Mid torgori-cn brawh t-p^i ir™j"-i** ranfl-
mgirorn ihaalorKMJi Kmg* nod Co*il« down Kg
HW Hl#mb*» T.,nk,
lr, nil m WMlratl.
NOW AlWJ AVAIL* «LI. Mid. all BUM 1 ICO
rng-iv» 10 lownd b*»««n 171 m»dland
r*gion- dathnartuni iDconwImn includv Coro-
.ni Stad. Jubilwt -ll
S^ml 1 1-mh.iuim or r»ii*1al OrrJm. Far
mclvdinfl p4> leu «ch gom» to
DEE KAY SYSTEMS
!C Salhxd Clot* Woadrow Soulti
KMfalMck Wore i 896 7UN
MENU OPEHflTIHG SYSTEM
lor the SPECTRUM
WtENUSYS Is a really professional
menu operatmo; System for your
SPECTRUM Supervises up to 15
Basic programs at 00 C6 (5 on 1 &K\ .
Simple G05UEV5 givo yuui pru
grams sophistic Bteri menu control
aod form-sTyls input. Built in
renumber r" delete / rename utilities.
MENUSYS is mostly in Basic, it's
Instable and copyable, it's endless^Y
versatile, and comes with a com-
prehensive 20 page guide If you
write a lot of BASIC programs, you
will get immense value from MEN-
US YS.
MENUSYS for 16/48K SPECTRUM
£4.95 1 include 9 CIS system tape,
handbook, P&PI. Td Dbtam your
copy send cheque/P-O to:
Micro Accessories.
40 Bowling Green Lane,
London EClfl ON A
Enclosing your name and address
•n bluek capitals. ZX-81 TOO' If
you hove a ZX-B1 send E2.95 tar
the simpler ZX 81 version.
T R, T Destyn.
438 Nightingale Lone
Claph.iir
Lnn SW12
DON'T READ IHIi If ALL TOUR
PKOORAMS WORK FIRST TrMf
Mirit^Hi ih^ m-i i ihi Ui4ir rtn.ljt i-i Hi.* mm. hih,
IH ammhl «lh l*dU r flltnm.1 Iwrw tU M VS «f 4
|Ml|KHr tnilll IttuMiH rti*( humm >mi i mk
IWlMpjm UfiWIN i .Jul dull. ilnfilJH Hlii^i^i.li. inliy
jmn «4 «I>mw> yiw tv M«v
iPMim* p«K-iMkin«| I tot i 'ii*l
JHMDS IhjI^ih.
*rj* try m&iir «i»k piwKt
. Vlpqi nnp awtiui Ihhi Jt < iimr cr run , , ^,1mh p *i.l»
y .IPJI I'^l^l-l' LllM J^r 4f in.. Ml.,
• Koryt irift Inl ■■■pMlKiii.ilwjt^' »wi l4w- n iri-n iiuii ■••
Mm
I » mm « KMri w^a#ftfcrt (i* LUiSO>
*^VIhl MiyHf^VTt 1 !
I »*Ut*ii "l^t- of tW U(}N hjVjI Il» I ML ippi Imm
V^ltrtr Ki UU> MHb M*>*< IMn wimI Ii. kH>|. I In i m+
Hwautfi i tmaiFit itimiuli
rt->-i^|i*TrjK» KOM IVr# n-i h«- '
<C W luwIHm - -r J- r »nr4 * Hum)
I k-Juliii-l^ « lu in 4wl i* « nvti « inxfn
SnlllhOlNKMCihWlltflMll Iw lu. k Hi i4K
All tndmivT prirr ol only E'llS
jlftk ur 46K Spectrum ontyl.
THIS'LL
TEACH YOU
A LESSON!!
(...or two!
GCE Otf «L.CS¥ rLkaMiuut* tor
wthCOvrXJI ■^VKjVMGCjHifniCti
jnu
The rate for classified
advertising Irt the
i& only £9.00 per
Sing* column centime! rr.
SPECTRUM ZX B1 wilh ZX printer
50 omnia* pus
12 employees
4SK
32K
E 19.95
C17.S0
Eesv to use. Include* SSP. Prints pay-
slips. PUD. monthly, yearly. <e«, M'C>
5SP, detaMs.
SOFT TECH, 3-1 Lampua, Hnddeadoii.
Hens, EN1 1 8EH.
TeJ: 01 52Q 6051
SPECTRUM
Ibk Or 4Hfc
exciting ik» ferric
SHARK Fl^HirsJCi
Test your fishing skill but beware of I he
h ILL I K Ml AKh>
Scud checjurv' t'O fr:r £5. u ? frp
^uliHirt Arttals, 22 BlvitK- (.iktu, K-m,
BANK ACCOUNT
4SK SPECTRUM
AS REVIEWED IN SINCLAIR USER 5fl
PLUS ANALYSIS Df PAYMENTS
Autu Standing Order. Full Screen On
line Update. Screen Enqmrv, Statement
PflftE with easy IO use Online Manual
K J. Goutdsinnrt
f Jl nn 4fi Fhi/lAiflh Av«mi«
LH.UU Wiltinglcm, Surrey SMG 7JG
MICRO CHIP POSTER
40 - 50cm po«cer feaiunnu Motorola
MC68000 1 6 till micre-procesior chip m
rtw term showing finp circuit datailt *T »
magnification o» ISO -
SATELLITE POSTERS
41 x 60cm Lendsar. poster show-Mi whuli?
of UH 4B* 70cm Mrrtronar rwfler show
ing whole or north
AH posters m 1uS colour & 4v4*sWe nam ml
|u»t fl '4 each or £4 50 for b**v Uwee tnc
VAT. Add 55p PfiP iwr order ClwWPO
to:
Dnijx Compute' Systems Ltd
1 7n Smart Slrrml, South Morton.
Devon EX 36 3 AD
Tel: I0759SI Z314
CARTOON ANIMATION
Programmer s. Aid Tor Spectrum 1 6K
and 48K Graphics Subroutine,
Wrrftpn :n W cuch; but requirS-i onlv
hAuvvbedge of Basic to use it Moves
imai( or large chars. 4eg 10 * 10 Chans, >
1 pixel si a Time
£10 including pip. or s*nd ft* e. for
leaflet 1u
FOWLER SOFTWARE
Hendon Mill. Nelson Lanes.
SPECTRUM
POOLS
PREDICTOR
An rdsy to us4. but VHSry powryr1i.it.
f ootball Pools Prediction program for
the 4SK Spectrum r.ciinbimng 6 dilfrr
enl forecasting techniques based on a
Kurnurelierisive analysis of curre-M
form.
£4.99
MAYDAY SOFTWARE
181 Portland Crescent.
StanmorB. Middlesex HA 7 1 LR
41k
WIN
THE
POOLS?
SPECTADRAW 2 - THE BEST SELLING
POOLS PREDICTION PROGRAM
FOR THE 48K ZX SPECTRUM
The program looks at the recent form of the teams playing in each
week's English and Scottish football league matches and then
refers to a large database to see what has happened in the past
when teams with similar form met. By com hi r tiny lhti lessor im
learnt from the past with the teams' current league position, the
program generates a draw probability factor for each match, It can
then identify Che matches which are likely to yifild draws and
oiitnui suitable predictions. I r w i also output the least likely dMHMf
for the benefit of those who prefer The fixed odds lines on
coupons.
Program, BOOO match database (bath on high quality
cassette) and instruction manual f 12.95 inclusive.
NEWT!! SPECTASORT -
THE PERM GENERATION PROGRAM
Spectasort takes the 14 most likely and 10 least likely draw
predictions and produces ten B from 10 full over perms, enabling
you to complete your pools coupon directly from the screen. The
program will run on its own in T6K, using your own predictions, or
has the unique feature of being able to merge with
SPECTADRAW 2 to provide a complete Pools Prediction
package!!
S pec t a sort program on high quality cassette £4.95 inclusive.
(Cheques /POs payable to B.S. McAftey)
SPECTADRAW
1 Cowleaze, Chinnor, Oxford 0X9 4TD
INSURANCE ASSURANCE 4SIC Spectrum
adequate cover f Programme shows, how m
minimise outgoings, maicimise Income Life,
pensions, investments. Tram atalf Public:
displays. Instant quale*. C4 inform
software, 3 Treedala Close, SouthpoM PH8
2EL.
ZX-81 SOFTWARE - nackyarnmon.'Oice
Cnatle, Club Record* and CoJIectOfS Pack.
C6 New price £3 each tape. Laurence
Nai.»en, 1 Alrmnrwdm Park. Rediand. Brrstol
427008.
ZX-Bl 16K 9 ynmrs on tape. 2 books, fl
m»yl. us new, in hox yalun f 95 sale C80.
Tel- 061 872 1370
16K ZX-81. t TOO ul tup nimirs sctftware.
F Sim, 30 Monslcr Maze. 30 Defender,
Chess. Afso books &r*d magajine* baroain
it C 70, good as new Phone 01 -20S 240a
laKnr 5pm I
ZX-St 16K RESTAURANt MANAGER
tiAME. Cop* w»th dwinrflinji bank balance,
neaith.'tood inspectors, stall turnover, tunc:
Hons, iivRrjiye spend T4.95 cheques onlv.
W Schtilz. 32 Ha2liTi Road W14 OJY
INFOLOC. Spectrum uilurrnntmn storage
system, 50 paqe r>les ideal for home, busi-
ness or classroom aid Fast access Cas-
•„:i-4- ify 50 .-.r s>9 g lor detauls Soft Stuff, 2
Water Lane ColtJiyes, H;irTietj.ti;im K*in1
SPECTRUM POOLS pr H diL:1ion njgular small
■■sins possible, fortunes not guaranteed out
puts best draws, homfrs and DwevB. lea
lures analylwal dravv finder 16K EG. 95
4SK £8.95. Hombaajt, 9 hawkstorw
Avonue. Newport, Salop
10% OFF ell 5pectrum/ZX-B1 tapes. Send
U&t at n.fquir*d tapes plus advertised price
less 10%. Mostly bv return Complete \n ? 1
days. S.A.E prion list Tissu 76 Chorcfies.
L^khatl Lanarkshire
ZXB1 1GK complete with 10 top cuimrs
tdues lrn±l "FliySt Simulation" "ABtrobds"
Scramble plus Man boo* and two mstruc
twin brinks wrth ggimrjs inside all rot £60.
Phone Epsom
16K 2X-81, juvstiirki, ten cissetlet inc,
Asse-mblrjr , disassembler and interpreter, S
books. New conditeon. Wonh approv
CI 40. only C90 o.n.o. Mark Malby, pttonr?
02S3 4 7B43 »ltnr E p m
REPAIRS ZJtfll SfECTBUM5. Wm can
now olfei out of guarantee repatra by our
computer dapt Oi>i engineers have hud
over 3 years eipftrinnoa wrvicing Sinclair
r.nmputtr products. Price including p&p
ZX-61 - £1 1 50. lfJK HAM £9 9S. Spec-
trum 08.75 Send With ciNrqun or P.O
T V. Sarvrcea of Cambridge, French's Road
Cambridge CB4 3NP Phone (02Z3J
31 1371.
ZX-81 16K RAM with Kampslon fceyboa'd
case and 10 games including Mrur>gs. Frog
gar, Donkey Kong FIjoM S^mUauon Worth
over C200 sell 1ur Ir20 oi beat offer with
manual. 01-B7Q 3817.
Dfl WHOM Kin ovit creaiurat on this great
adventure & parts cm a 1GK ZX 81 Send
cheque p.o. to 0. Biggs. 33 Btancarn Ck»e.
KtrMartd Avenue, Woking For only C3.99
TEACHERS! 4BK Spectrum prorjrem sorts
mark*; preiT*'LPR IP4TS awam-of dei . alpha
beiiuai Order farmi'sef. year liats and av*t-
ages t&95 Grilfm, 43 Rockiey Road.
Shefbald SG 1 WL, &«.a. lor datairs.
BRAQ. Speeirum 4flK Can <fov out-wrt
your computer^ Agamat Wild Bill,
and the Kid yecu iwon'1 lind it caiy A i
Heated programme 'ulf mairuttrerti
addictive! Onl-v E4.95. T Lebon.
r *r«y«< Brays Lane, Rochfmd, Eseei; 5S4
J*H l J
MEDSTAT"' Comprehensive Friendly Stat
istics Package for Engineering, Medicine.
Science Student* For 4flK Spectrum Nor-
mal. Poisson. Brnomiat Distribuiians, CHk
Squared etc etc Cassette E 1 b 00 Cul
Ihatm. 71 Lower Broad Street. Ludlow.
Shropshire
SPECTRUM VIDEO CONVERSION Modilv
your Spectrum to compoeite video output
Send lor detailed lenflei Price E t 95. to J
Hewitsnn. Mail Cottage, Church HHI. Monks
Eleigh Suftnlic
4£X SPECTRUM 2-mth old itiN under g'tee
Comp. with Sanyo tape recorder, manuals,
*Mra booki. mags. Also software. Flight',
'Golf, Derby Day', Football '
Ch«s». ate f 1 30 Meson 0602 834 E
ROADSAFETV made funon4fiK Spectrum,
work through thrfl entertaining, ectnc^rional
program with y»ur ur»de* lens - meet Kevin
the Safety Conscious feluphnm win prv 1
£2 95, OJH Software, 179 Cornish Hd..
Chipptng Norton, Oncm.
48H ZX SPECTRUM DKTronica keyboard
over C3O0 software only 3 months old
includes Mamr. Mmer. Valhalla, Hobtm.
Scrabble, Games Destgnor, Kong and many
mure. £220 on a Tel: 037B-87BB13
Advertisement Index
Addictive Games , tr , ,, r ., ,,,,,, 52
AGF Hardware 15*. 157
Artie 73
Automata 1&4. IfiE
a & H Electronics 9&
Bellfkiwer 5df|uvar« 170
Bi-pak <■■■-,, ,-, 74
Bridgamafltar 20
Brmge Soltwrjre „ ,, r 1 1 7
Buffer Mi cio Shop 7B
HLig-Byie 37
CCS , 24. 115
Cambridge Computing 101
Campbell Systems lOfj
Cnrn»lf Softwa** .„,,, 22. 23
Chalkscift , 1 20
Compuaound 5fl
Computer Add ons 99
CP Soft war* 1 58. 15&
CRL ,....,13> ISO, 151
Cross Software ,,..74
Cryital CofrHJuTirg T46
Datal 56
Digital Integration 117
Dork 70
OK Tronics 14. 15, 100. 340. 1W
East London RoboticB 36, 37, 59
Fantasy Sufiware 34
Filesi*iy 166
FrjK Efaclronics 122
fuller Micro 97. 141
Games Centra 106
Gtam Design 59
Croye, J K 1fl9
Hewson Consultant ,., 97. 141
Hornby Soltwera 168
Irr'nyinei Suhwdre b f. 1 36 -\b2
Interlace 106
ISP 45
Katwooir ^,,„^!> t .„^"!!Z!!ZZ"ig0
Kemp Ltd 58
Kompsion Micro Electronics . ,. 2. 95
Kernow Software Services 104
Keysoh 121
Longman Group .1 13
Mr:Neil Software 98
Mirromega 13 7. 1 !3*5
98
MCA Modon
Melbourne House
5, 7, 7&. 77. T14 11&. 14?
MhfO C*rt ,,, .4
MikroGen 32
Morex Peripherals 38
National Software Library 59
Neil Gibson 1 20
New Generation 105. 107. 109
Orwin Soltwara GB
Oxford Computer Publisher) 48
Pftaj Kay ,. ............ ..104
Penguin Books ..IB. 30
Petron Electronics 108
Phirppa AssuCibIkS 74
Purturnsour 1 1 S 7
Prentice Hail international 21
Prtnt and Plotter a 9
Protek Computing: 46. 47
PSS 171
Ouickailva 1 72
Richard Shepherd Soltwnm
45. 132. 133
Salve Software 10B
Signpaint Ltd 96
Sinclair Research Ltd 1 25 228
SMT Rntronlcs , 64
Softeach 20
Soft wain tending Library 20, 108
Software Library . . 75
Soft wart Supermarket ...35
Software Workshop ... l 3 1 . 168. 187
Slack Computers SB
Stell Software 1 24
Superman „ 169. 170
Tasman Software 72
Te*geta 1 1 7
Thorn EMI ...82, 63
Traffic Technology Bfl
Transform 75
University Software 56
Vnrtilco ....78
Visions 29
Vulrjari Electromca 104
Wiley. John A Sons _.. 10
Winters Ltd 1 SB
ZX Microfa* 75
170
SINC1JUR t SHR January im
.,1 ■■ irmiK-iiw^:i-:^i
ZiJLlULllBLJiBLkZ-iJl.k^Ui.WBULZL.lJLI
ibav
HOPPER
ELEKTRO STORM
Earth « under attack from
wave after wave of intergalactic
missiles - your mission it to
blast them nut of the sky with
your later cannon before the
whale human race is wiped out,
SPECTRUM 48K5 95
HOPPER
Help FERGUS and his friends
across the highway avoiding
the traffic, and then over the
treacherous river on the backs
of turtles and logs to the safety
of the (illy pond,
Features include; 6 lanes of
traffic, diving turtles, croco-
diles & flies.
ZX8116K 3 95
SPECTRUM
16K48K 5-95
LIGHT CYCLE
The MASTER CONTROL
PROGRAM has ordered you to
ran your light cycle on the
infamous grid. This is ill
incredibly fast, adrenalin
pumping game that tt very
addictive. There is an option
to race against either another
player or the computer - but
we warn you in vary very good !
SPECTRUM
16K 48K 5 95
MAZE DEATH RACE
Drive your 50 Ob. h. p. ratine car
around a giant maze (9 timet
the size of the TV screen on
tire ZXI1 version, 32 time* for
the spectrum). Watch out for
the hazards - oil, ice, fallen
rocks etc. Hot the least of your
worries are the chase cars also
CHEQUE OR PG. TO PS S 452 STOP* Y STANTON «D. COVENTRY CV* SOG
INSTANT CREDIT CARD SALES TEL (0203)667554.
in the maze - one touch with
these means instant death!
ZX8116K 3-95
SPECTRUM 48K4 95
PANIC
"It must he a nightmare'' he
screamed as he ran around the
maze of floors, desperately
climbing ladders to different
levels in a vain attempt to
evade the monstan.
Ht had only his neutron
hammer to dig holes for the
vile creatures to fall into, but
even then he had to repeatedly
hit them before they dropped
to their deaths. At rf that
wasn't bad enough, the nxyftn
supply was running out!
SPECTRUM 48K5 95
GRIDRUNNER
Spectrum version of
VIC 2Q No 1 beet
seller.
Spectrum AQK 1 1 6K1
D«»lgnart
Jeff Mlnfcar.
AQUAPLANE
Aquatic Action 1
Spectrum ASK
Author: John Ma Ilia.
XAOOM
Battle through a
sophisticated alien
maze ori this Arcade/
Adventure
Spectrum «4BK
Author:
Mike Muscoff-
COMMODORE
B4 GAMES
QUlNTIC WARRIOR
Stend alone agar net
Sinister Crabmen and
MangJed Mutants
Author: T. P. MMtl-
Quintlc Wamar Commodore B-4
Purple Turtles Commodore BA
Aquaplane Commodore 64
Ring of Power Commodore 34
Mmed-Out BBC model B 32K
Beet^Art BBC model B 32K
The Generators BBC model B 32K
Velncr'a Le»r Spectrum ABK
Smugglers Cove Spectrum 4BK
Trexx Spectrum 48K
Gridrunner Spectrum 1 6 K/ A BK
Aquaplane Spectrum 4SK
Xadom Spectrum 48K
3D Strategy Spectrum 1 BK
BugaBoo [The Flea) Spectrum 3 BK
S ortsolid 3 □ Ant Attack Spectrum
HEAD OFFICE; QLHCK31LVA
£7.95
C7.B5
£7 95
£9.95
£B 95
£14 95
ee .95
C6.B5
ee.95 □
£6 95 .1
CS 95 □
E6 : ,
£6.95 n
£B 95 □
4BK £6.95
LlM
please send me the games as ticked supplied dm
Total cheque/PO enclosed
Cheque payable to Quicksilva Limited
NAME
ADDRESS .
PloeBe send order tn
QUID K S M_VA MAIL ORDER:
Cat* rlaviland Road
Ferndouun Industrial Estate
Wirn borne, Dorset
Bend S A E far Catalogue. QS
Gemee ere available through Boots.
J. Merueies. Smiths, Hamleye
and ell Heading enmputer stores
WAHNINO: Thal« prDgr*rnt mr~m m u I d
■ODDrdlno to ttUlCK»l4_VA Ltd'* t«rm»
CREDIT CAR(
TELE SALES
nsQ2-Bai7
» TED| PALMEPSTON PARK HOUSE, 13PALMER6TON ROAD, SOUTHAMPTON SOI 1 LL
Live Music Archive
Librivox Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Internet Arcade
Console Living Room
Books to Borrow
Open Library
TV News
Understanding 9/11